Among the issues brought up at the Lake Central School Corporation’s Board Meeting on Monday were questions about class sizes, construction and funds for extra curriculars. Controversial raises given to administrators, however, was the most heated topic of the night.

Teachers utilized every second of their three minutes to express their deep disapproval of the $200,000 raises the board approved for eleven administrators. Each teacher that spoke received a round of applause from their colleagues and members of the audience.

Robert Gustas of Clark Middle School explained that teachers’ hours and responsibilities have increased. With cuts in staff and larger class sizes, Lake Central teachers feel unappreciated.

Teachers were concerned about cuts in staff and wanted a salary increase, which most teachers haven’t received in almost four years.

Living on two teachers’ salaries and raising three children is almost impossible for Mrs. Kathryn Clark, English, and her husband, Mr. Josh Clark, Social Studies, while working at Lake Central.

“I love Lake Central and want to stay at this school my entire career,” Katherine Clark (English) said, whose husband, Josh Clark (Social Studies), is also a teacher at Lake Central. “From the bottom of our hearts, we both want to remain teachers until we retire, but the way things are going, we can barely afford to support our family on our teachers’ salaries.”

Negotiations are being discussed weekly between the Lake Central Teachers Association and the administration. The next school board meeting is March 18 in the LGI.