Part-time teachers want the district to pay out money they say it already agreed to. One group of teachers call this issue one big pain in the pocketbook.

The sting of a 10 percent pay cut still hurts Melissa Bertalott.

"I just love this job but it's basically a slap in the face," said part-time teacher Bertalott. "I'm a little upset because that's important to our family."

She's one of about 30 teachers who agreed to take a $2,000 to $3,000 stipend instead of buying insurance through Columbia public schools. Pam Curd just got her master's degree when she found out her stipend would be cut.

"I've just completed some graduate work that was really important and now I'm going to get a pay cut," part-time teacher Pam Curd said.

Removing the stipend is just one of dozens of cuts outlined in the Columbia public schools 62-page budget reduction considerations plan.

It says by reducing the current benefits to these part-time employees, the district would save nearly $73,000.

The plan says Columbia public schools would work to offer these part-time employees full-time jobs as positions become available.

"It is excruciating trying to make these reductions... It does not feel good for any of us," Assistant Superintendent Lynn Barnett said.

But that answer doesn't satisfy Curd.

"It seems unfair to us only because we're not asking for a raise, we just want to keep our salaries where they've been for the last 10 years," said Curd.

The budget cuts affect everyone and for Curd and Bertalott- it just got a lot more personal.

Some of the teachers KOMU 8 talked with said they're already looking for jobs in other districts because of the stipend cut.

Thursday night, the Columbia school board will continue its talks about next year's budget at the district headquarters.