To the editor:

I am expressing feelings about the Lawrence board of education’s lack of funding for teacher salaries at a level comparable with the quality of teachers serving the Lawrence school district.

For the past three of four years, our teachers have conducted their teaching skills for no or very small pay increases. As a result, we have lost many excellent teachers for better pay to other school districts or to industry.

The board of education has the responsibility and obligation to establish the top priorities for the Lawrence school district. Based on the Lawrence district’s teachers’ pay compared to surrounding school districts, our teachers’ pay is low. Consequently, this pay standard must be corrected. The children in the Lawrence schools will benefit from hiring and retaining quality instructors.

While I realize the board of education must establish many priorities for the operation of the district, I feel with the additional state of Kansas funding received this year that teacher pay increases should be considered the top priority so as to compete with other school districts’ pay increases.

Don Martin,

Leo Langlois,

Lawrence