Iroquois School District teachers have a lot of suggestions on how to save taxpayers money, including holding a “yard sale” to get rid of old equipment.

But a wage cut or freeze is not among their ideas.

The School Board invited community and employee representatives to a special budget development meeting last week hoping for input on the 2010-11 budget plan, but came armed with their own ideas as well.

School Board President Susan Brenner noted that residents have complained that teachers are still getting salary increases annually while members in the community have had none or have lost their jobs.

“It’s difficult to swallow,” Brenner said. “If the community saw a freeze, it might be more supportive.”

Chris Wilckens, president of the Iroquois Teachers Association, offered a list of suggestions she had derived from teacher surveys. Cost-cutting ideas included: reducing substitute coverage, attempting a four-day work week, and a “yard sale” to sell off old school equipment.

When Trustee Suzanne Wolff asked about wage cuts or salary freezes, Wilckens said that idea had not been brought forward.

Wilckens said she would take the suggestion back to the teachers, but doubted it would get much if any, support. She noted that the members gave up some benefits for a salary increase last time they were at the bargaining table and it wouldn’t be fair to ask them to give it up.

Brenner said she wondered if the teachers might feel differently if jobs were lost or if classroom sizes swelled to 30 students.

Wolff concurred that feedback has been sharp on the salary front.

“That’s what I’m getting asked most: is Neil [Rochelle, Iroquois superintendent] ready to take a pay cut? Are the teachers?” Wolff asked.

Also this week, the board weighed the question of postponing the district’s annual bus proposition on the May ballot.

The board took no action but will hold another open budget work session next month.