As school districts across the state work on their salary negotiations, a letter sent by Gov. Dave Heineman has stirred controversy between school boards and the bargaining units for teachers.

The governor says he's advocated for increased pay for years and now is the time to step up, with new stimulus funds.

In a letter sent to the Nebraska State Education Association, Heineman encourages districts to use federal stimulus funds to increase teacher pay. $234 million dollars in stimulus money will go to schools next year.

"They're our front line in what we're doing in education, I believe they deserve higher salaries and that was my sole purpose in doing this," said Heineman.

Jess Wolf, president of NSEA, supports the governors call.

"We've been trying to emphasize that we keep falling behind the national average and we're currently 45th..about $9,000 behind the average teacher salary in the country," said Wolf.

Wolf has sent out his own letter reinforcing the governor's suggest. However, both are finding some resistance from school boards.

"The reaction speaks for itself if you notice the letter was on campaign stationery and I would say that probably says enough for me," said Kathy Danek, who is both a member the Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education and the Nebraska School Board Association.

Don Mayhew, president of the Lincoln School Board said he's glad the governor agrees "with what we've been saying for years, in that teacher compensation needs attention" but said he's a little disappointed with a few things the governor's letter said.

"The concept of using stimulus money for increases..that money is going to go away in a few years but the teachers and their salaries are going to be with us," said Mayhew.

Mayhew also said the governor's argument that state aid increases each year without salaries increasing doesn't hold true for LPS.

"What I would point out is that for the last several years, the increases in state aid that Lincoln has got, have not kept up with increases we have done."

In fact, out of the last four years, this year is the first time the state aid increase exceeded LPS' negotiated salary increases.

In 2006-2007, state aid actually decreased by more $600,000 while LPS still negotiated a salary increase of five percent.

While the governor's proposal may sound nice to many, Mayhew expects it to have a rough ride.

"I think there's going to be a lot of conflict with school boards across the state to have these ongoing compounding expenses without a funding source."

Sen. Greg Adams, chairman of the Education Committee, said the $234 million comes in on top of general fund allocation, but replaces revenue already lost by the state.

Adams said how the money is distributed is a local issue and decision.

"The stimulus money is designed to retain jobs - it isn't necessarily earmarked for increases in salary..it could happen that way," said Adams who recommends school boards and bargaining units be "cognizant of years three and four" - when the $234 million in stimulus money no longer exists.

A spokesperson for NSEA said since they've sent out their letter, they've received mixed responses but feel "confident the governor's letter has helped".