6News' Kara Kenney reported last week that some were questioning the raises, which are part of an overall plan to reassign principals and other administrators in an effort to secure grant money, district officials said.

On Tuesday night, the board defeated the measure, 4-3.

The move prompted an angry response from Superintendent Eugene White, who told board members if they insist on changing the plan that he wants to renegotiate his contract.

Records show 10 administrators would get raises under the plan.

More: IPS Salary List

For example, Principal Larry Yarrell will switch from Northwest High School to Arsenal Technical High School, and will get a $4,000 raise on his $105,000 salary.

Athletic Director Otis Curry will transfer from Northwest High School to Arsenal Tech and his salary will go from $90,638 to $92,591.

Lori Weber, an assistant principal, will switch schools and maintain the same title, with an $11,000 raise.

"The schools receiving new principals (other than Arsenal Technical High School) are identified as low-performing by the state. In order to qualify for improvement grants, the principal and 51 percent of the teaching staff must change," said IPS spokeswoman Mary Louise Bewley said last week. "We're making this change now, instead of later in the spring, so that the new principals will be able to interview the teachers who will populate the turnover school -- not the principal who is being replaced."

Bewley said the changes at Arsenal Tech reflect a desire to make changes to the current small schools structure at the facility.

Last year, the Education Action Group Foundation, a nonprofit taxpayer rights group questioned why, amid districtwide cuts, 177 IPS administrators earned more than $100,000 in salary and benefits during the 2009-2010 school year.

The district cut $26 million from its budget in 2010, including teaching positions.

But White has stressed that the school system must offer competitive salaries and said the district will save money because other positions will be eliminated.

6News and board members are waiting for a breakdown of those savings.