The issue of administrative salaries on Monday divided the Lawrence school board, with new board members disagreeing with experienced members.

Newly elected board members Craig Grant and John Mitchell voted against a plan to raise funds for administrative salaries by 6 percent. The proposed plan would spend about $277,000 on administrative salaries and fringe benefits, to be allocated at Supt. Ran-dy Weseman’s discretion.

Board members Rich Minder, Sue Morgan, Linda Robinson and Cindy Yulich voted for the plan. Board President Leonard Ortiz was absent.

Grant and Mitchell argued that the increase would mean some employees could receive a raise of a few thousand dollars while others would receive a few hundred.

“I don’t think administrators are twice as important as our teachers, and I think that is the message we’re sending tonight, and I don’t think we should send it,” Grant said.

But other members argued that the plan was equitable.

“I can’t imagine how someone could make the argument that the quality of a building administrator doesn’t have an effect on students,” Morgan said.

Mitchell disputed that the plan was equitable.

“I hope it doesn’t result in a division (of the board),” Mitchell said.

The board approved a budget for publication. That budget maximizes the tax levy for the local option budget, but does not hit the limit for capital outlay.

The board could have opted to increase the levy for capital outlay to 8 mills, but it chose to increase that levy from 5.797 to 6 mills.

In its recent ruling, the state Supreme Court approved a provision to increase the limit on school districts’ local option budgets. A local option budget can now account for 27 percent of a district’s general fund, up from 25 percent.

The Lawrence board opted to move forward at the 27 percent level, but that decision is not final and can still be dropped.

The board also considered contributing to the fund for the school finance lawsuit against the state, though they did not make any firm commitments.

A budget hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive. Budget approval is set for 7 p.m. that night.