Lawrence school district employees shouldnâÂÂt expect another 5 percent increase in salary and benefits in 2003-2004, the school board president says.

But the leader of the Lawrence teachers union said Thursday that he wasnâÂÂt ready to give up on another good pay raise.

âÂÂThe financial picture is bleak at best,â said Wayne Kruse, president of Lawrence Education Assn. and a teacher at Quail Run School. âÂÂWeâÂÂll just have to see what happens.âÂÂ

Negotiations on a new teacher contract begin this month, but key decisions wonâÂÂt be made until the end of the school year.

Scott Morgan, Lawrence school board president, said budget problems in the state and district made it unlikely this yearâÂÂs 4 percent salary increase and 1 percent boost in health-insurance benefits could be repeated.

âÂÂI think thatâÂÂs remote,â he said.

Supt. Randy Weseman agreed: âÂÂThe roads narrow considerably when you donâÂÂt have anything to offer.âÂÂ

Weseman said the district could be hit with a second round of state budget cuts before negotiations on a new contract were finished. That would make it more difficult to come up with money for contract improvements.

The school board secured funding for this yearâÂÂs pay raise by eliminating jobs, downsizing programs and increasing student fees. That reduces reallocation options for next year, Weseman said.

In 2001, Lawrence teachers approved a 4.7 percent increase in compensation. The previous yearâÂÂs contract pumped 3.3 percent more into wages and benefits.

LEA represents 930 teachers, librarians and counselors in Lawrence schools. While not part of the negotiating process, the districtâÂÂs 770 classified staff usually receive the same deal negotiated by LEA.

Kruse said other actions could be taken to improve the working conditions of educators if the district didnâÂÂt have much money for raises.

Reducing classroom disruptions Ãi¿½” assemblies, contests, presentations Ãi¿½” would be a relief for teachers, he said. Cutting teachersâ paperwork would be beneficial. Reducing the number of standardized assessments given students also might be useful, he said.

âÂÂWe want to make sure that when our teachers are in classrooms theyâÂÂre able to teach what theyâÂÂre supposed to teach,â Kruse said.