School officials double their pay

By Lynn Hotaling

By a 3-1 vote, members of the Jackson County Board of Education raised their monthly stipends from $150 to $275 for the board chairman and from $100 to $200 for the other four board members. All five will receive an extra $25 for each special meeting that lasts more than four hours.

Board Chairman Martha Queen and members Mary Jane Dillard and James Roper voted in favor of the increase. Ray Trine voted "no," and Ali Laird-Large abstained.

Superintendent Mack McCary recommended the increase in the board's "per diem," as board members' compensation is called. Board attorney Paul Holt pointed out that "per diem" means "per day" and the compensation is actually disbursed on a monthly basis, but the wording in the motion was not altered.

The increase is justified because the school board now meets twice monthly and "can't do everything in two meetings," McCary said.

"Unless you take this action, it makes it more difficult to entice others to serve," McCary told board members.

Chairman Queen moved the board accept McCary's recommendation and asked for a second so the matter could be discussed. Laird-Large seconded the motion.

It has been several years since the board members' compensation has been increased, Queen said. She pointed out that the county commissioners' chairman receives some $12,000 per year, and part-time commissioners are paid about $9,000. Even with the increase, board members' monthly compensation will not be enough to cover expenses like lost income from missed work and the cost of travel to and from board meetings, Queen said.

"When I took this job, I took it as a volunteer," said Trine. "I did it because I believe in the education system and in trying to help kids. I believed my presence here would result in improvements. That's why I took the job, and I won't vote for (increased compensation)."

"I agree with Ray," said Roper. "We're here because we believe in children."

Laird-Large asked that the motion be tabled and abstained when the issue subsequently came up for vote.

"I had another way I wanted to see it done," she said, though she did not elaborate.

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