It hardly seems justifiable by any stretch, but the board voted to raise its pay to $12,000 in one fell swoop. Not only is the pay boost unreasonable, it looks like an out-and-out money grab just at a time when dissatisfied school patrons are already itching to break ranks and form their own districts.
The raise is not only offensive to parents who already believe the district is too big and the bureaucracy too self-absorbed, but is understandably being taken as a slap in the face to underpaid teachers. If the part-time board members opt out of the health insurance plan they get for free and take cash instead - an option unavailable to other elected officials - their new salaries would more than double again to $29,456, nearly equal to a first-year teacher's pay.
The difference, of course, is that teachers work full time for nine months and log extra hours when school is in session. They also pay a hefty premium for health insurance.
The board's timing could not have been more obtuse. Across town on the same evening the board boosted its pay, three city councils - Cottonwood Heights, Midvale and Draper - voted to put a proposal to break off from Jordan District on the November ballot. Alta later joined in. Votes are pending by Sandy and Salt Lake County councils. State law requires only a majority vote of residents in the area that would form the new district.
This sudden move of board members to quadruple their salaries can only encourage voters to break away now, despite the school closures and tax hikes that are apt to result.
We believe board members are right to take advantage of a new law eliminating the arbitrary $3,000 pay ceiling imposed by the Legislature and rescinded this year. They have labored for years with no increases while other elected officials' pay was growing.
Board members devote many hours to the job of overseeing the state's largest district. They deserve an appropriate paycheck. Nevertheless, it would have been more judicious to take the raise in yearly increments and not to have contemplated cashing in health insurance they get free.
