FARMINGTON – A teacher pay increase for the next school year was the top discussion item for SAD officials on Tuesday.

“I do support pay increases, but at this financial crisis time it just doesn’t seem feasible,” director Kevin Umlauf of Vienna said during the meeting in the Mt. Blue High School library. He added that he didn’t think it was good timing.

Jo Josephson of Temple agreed with Umlauf, adding that with so many area people being laid off, the pay raise didn’t seem to be reasonable.

Information on the pay increases for teachers will be available in town offices as well as online later this month, school officials said.

An additional item on the agenda Tuesday was a notice that the district meeting will be held May 22, and that the district budget vote takes place on May 28.

Director Mark Prentiss of Industry asked what kind of tax increase the towns would see for the 2009 school year. Michael Cormier, superintendent, responded that the increase is about 4.7 percent.

The meeting also included a motion to approve a moderator for the district meeting. Dr. Raymond Glass of Farmington suggested an attorney from Wilton, Ron Azeltine. The motion was approved, and a vote to set the budget meeting and election will be held at the next SAD 9 meeting.

In other business, assistant Superintendent Susan Pratt noted that Carol Pillsbury, an emergency medical teacher, recently received the Governor’s Award.

Pratt also said according to a recent energy conservation report, the district has some of the lowest energy costs per square foot compared to other districts in the area. Cormier added that the SAD 9 district has received an award for being energy efficient.

The next board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, in the Mt. Blue High School library.