The 2007 Legislative Session passed raises for Nevada school board members, which will go into effect in January of 2009. School boards may vote in these new pay levels anytime prior to 2009. SB 328 set the rates based on the county’s size. School board members with less than 20,000 people in the county receive $250 a month, 20,000 to less than 100,000 in county population receive $400 a month, and 100,000 or more in county population receive $750 per month.

These aren’t major raises, but do put school boards in the awkward position of giving themselves raises prior to the automatic 2009 effective date. The new pay legislation replaces a system where board salaries were based on being a standard member or being the clerk or president of the board on a per meeting basis with a monthly cap rate. They were also based on district size on the number of students in the district rather than the population of the county.

Board members in school districts with less than 1,000 students are currently being paid, as set out by state statute, $80 per meeting and $85 for the clerk and president for a maximum of $160 and $170 respectively per month. Board members of school districts with 1,000 or more students receive the same per meeting rate, but recognizing they have to meet more often gives them a monthly cap of $480 and $510 per month.

Clark County School District board members will receive a raise of $270 per month for most members and a raise of $240 for the clerk and president. The CCSD school board discussed the matter last Thursday’s July 12 meeting for possible action. They put it off until all board members could be present at the next meeting on July 26, where action may again be taken.

The real benefit for being a school board member has never been the modest salary, rather some taking too much advantage of travel allowances. That’s where the figures get noticeably bigger. What do you think? Feel free to comment.