This is a good year to be a teacher in Lawrence public schools.

The 5 percent increase in salary and benefits for the district’s 900 teachers in 2002-2003 matched raises given in the rapidly growing, financially well-off districts of Blue Valley and DeSoto.

And raises in Lawrence were well above the 2.2 percent average at seven small districts neighboring Lawrence.

The Lawrence school board came up with money for the biggest raise for teachers in at least five years by cutting payroll, abandoning programs and raising student fees.

“I’m absolutely convinced we did the right thing,” said Scott Morgan, Lawrence school board president. “Our teachers are our priority.”

With this year’s increase the starting wage for novice teachers climbed to $26,780; the maximum teacher salary is $50,598.

Among 10 districts in an informal survey, raises ranged from 1.5 percent in Ottawa to 5 percent in Lawrence, DeSoto and Blue Valley.

While total compensation in Lawrence went up 5 percent, the 5 percent in DeSoto and Blue Valley was devoted exclusively to wage increases.

“It’s an interesting situation,” said Jim Payne, executive director of human resources in Blue Valley. “The labor market is very tight for teachers. We have a lot of areas  where it’s increasingly difficult to find suitable candidates.”

Eudora’s teachers still don’t know what their raise will be in 2002-2003. Negotiators are at impasse because of disagreement about adjustments in salary and health insurance benefits, said Supt. Marty Kobza.

“The board of education made an offer,” he said. “The board is awaiting a reply from the teachers’ union.”

On paper, McLouth’s 4 percent raise in salary and benefits put it near the top of the leader board. But less than 2 percent was tied to wages, said Supt. Jean Rush.

Four districts were in the middle range this year: Tonganoxie, 3.1 percent; Oskaloosa, 3 percent; Perry-Lecompton, 2.5 percent; Baldwin, 2.2 percent.

Baldwin Supt. Jim White said the district’s raises this year weren’t substantial, but they were accomplished without deep staff cuts.

“I think the folks there in Lawrence took some drastic steps and reduced the numbers of staff they had,” White said.

In two area districts, raises were below 2.0 percent. Wellsville’s was 1.9 percent and Ottawa’s was 1.5 percent.