In a close 4-3 vote, the school board approved the measure. Board members Teresa Scott, Jan Sutherland, Bill Hawley and Beth Banze voted in favor of the 5 percent raise. Dale Schowe, Carmen Schulze and David Housewright voted against it. Three years ago, the board approved a three-year salary schedule where staff was slated to see a 9.2 percent average raise for next year based on state funding estimates. Due to the recent economic decline, state and local funding have been dramatically reduced and the school district has been forced to reconsider the 9.2 percent raises. Tuesday night's meeting opened with a presentation by Steve McDowell and Steve Wilson, Warrenton Education Association co-presidents. Noting that teachers are paid significantly less than teachers in other Missouri districts of similar size, the men proposed a 5 percent raise for teachers and staff, at a cost of $670,767. They explained that there is $332,403 currently available for raises, according to district estimates. To make up the remainder, the teachers advocated changes in the benefits package, for a savings of $100,000. The remaining $238,364 would come from cuts in professional development, technology, training and from a 1- or 2-cent tax levy that would not require voter approval. Wilson acknowledged that the district will likely need to dip into its reserves in the future, but felt it would not be a significant amount, based on state estimates of future funding. In conclusion, Wilson noted that many districts are currently freezing or cutting salaries, and described the present situation as a "great opportunity for us to slowly catch up to other schools and equalize that inequity." Superintendent Long then presented a counter-proposal for a 3 percent raise. "Our recommendation is that a 3 percent raise is sustainable," Long said. Long's chief concern is that current estimates of future state funding are unlikely to pan out when federal stimulus funds run out. He said that even before the current economic downturn, the state failed to provide all the funding promised to school districts. "Going forward, this proposal that the teachers have placed on your desk is predicated on the state continuing to roll out the formula in the way the state has said it will," he explained. "We're currently in year three and they haven't rolled it out like they said they would yet." While stimulus funds hold out, the 5 percent raise will be manageable, Long said. However, he feels the district cannot sustain the figure over the long haul. He predicted that approving the raise at this time will ultimately force the district into difficult financial choices in the future. "If you give a 5 percent raise I can almost guarantee you that two years from now you're going to be firing people," he said. Before the final vote, the board debated how best to distribute the district raise. The proposal from the Warrenton Education Association advocated distributing the raises with entry-level teachers receiving approximately 4 percent and the most experienced teachers receiving 6 percent for an overall average of 5 percent. Some board members questioned whether entry-level salaries should be increased in order to attract better candidates. Many district teachers and administrators expressed support for the plan offered by the teachers' bargaining unit. Josie Erfling, fourth-grade teacher at Rebecca Boone School with 17 years of experience, said, "All these years we have been loyal, through freezes and reductions. We are dedicated to teaching and have a commitment to the children. This raise shows the district values teachers who have stayed here regardless of the economic climate out of a commitment to the children and the community." Following the board's approval, McDowell expressed satisfaction with the result. "Basically, we went into this all along in good faith to support new teachers and teachers who had been here a long time," he said. "We won't be equal, but we will be close to other districts. To build a strong school you need to keep teachers here."