By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, June 30, 2006 at 11:19 AM
Labels: Interviews, SchoolsMost Many of the employees of St. Louis Public Schools did not get paid today as scheduled. District spokesmen Johnny Little and Tony Sanders have not returned repeated calls, but sources in the district say the fault lies in the treasurer's office.
As we reported earlier this week, Superintendent Creg Williams turned those duties over to the district's interim chief financial officer, Cedric Lewis, after Enos Moss suddenly resigned from the post three weeks ago.
Developing...
UPDATE 1: Mary Armstrong, the president of the teachers' union, said today's payroll mistake affects all of the district's employees who get paid by direct deposit. She said she has asked the superintendent to make paper checks available to those employees today for pick-up at the district headquarters.
She said she has also asked the district to prepare letters addressed to the creditors of those employees facing non-sufficient funds (NSF) and late fees because of the today's error.
UPDATE 2: Tony Sanders, a district spokesman, said that principals are collecting names those teachers that "want or need" to get paid today and that checks will be delivered to those employees at the school sometime this afternoon.
Sanders would not say how the mistake occured, except to call it a "human error." He would not identify the particular human at fault.
UPDATE 3: Two thousand (out of approximately 5,000) employees were affected by today's direct deposit transmission error. District spokesman Tony Sanders pointed out that that is not "most" of the district's employees. And so we have corrected our original post to reflect that.
Sanders also wanted to clear up a couple of other things. He said the decision to give paper checks to only those employees who requested one was because had checks been written to all 2,000 employees, you would have some employees who would not be available today to receive them. Due to Independence Day holiday, some staff members would then not receive their pay until they returned next week -- or later for employees who are on vacation. It would also be difficult to notify those employees.
Sanders also pointed out that the error impacted all staff members who utilize direct deposit, not just teachers, as some have suggested.
UPDATE 4: Contrary to a promise from Dr. Williams emailed to all district staff, some employees did not receive paper checks by the end of the day. We are told that those employees who bank at U.S. Bank should see the funds available tomorrow. Those that bank at other institutions should see their funds available on Monday, July 3.
UPDATE 5: Here's a video of an interview we did this afternoon with the Local 420's president, Mary Armstrong...
6 Comments:
Antiono, I used to work for the district, If you somehow could pull the records this happens every year around this time, the new budget goes into effect on july 1 so all that budget money for last year gets messed up right around this time, but I think this is the first time its happen to teachers, normally it happens to other staff.
6/30/2006 2:04 PM
This is why you should put me in office, I will make changes to this district and promote effective leadership withing the district!
6/30/2006 2:28 PM
I will fix HR issues! I will make sure all refrigerators keep lunches cool and fresh! I will ensure that each couch and chair in all teachers lounges are cushy and soft!
F'real though, this is an embarassment for the superintendant.
6/30/2006 2:38 PM
Boykins and not the real boykins, you might as well. Are you friends of Slay? If so, you too can get a great paying cushy job like Mike McMillan's mom.
6/30/2006 9:14 PM
If these lazy teachers and their school board chronies keep up their antics, there will be a lot more to cry over, when Purdy's deficit hits.
7/03/2006 9:46 AM
To boykins (both of them), if this is the real Amber Boykins my question to is where were you two years ago when the Union was requesting an audit? The same leadership was in place then (only the names were changed)? While you have been in office and the SLPS have gotten worse instead of better. So why haven’t you already made these proposed changes to the district leadership? OR Is this just another empty promise politicians make in order to get elected? After looking at some of your bills that you supposedly sponsored I do not see any that would directly affect the leadership of the St. Louis Public Schools. I want to see the plan you propose to initiate before you get elected. I am tired of empty plans and empty promises in order for people to get elected for a title instead of a position. You are supposed to be representing the people instead of interest groups. Your constituents want to see actions now. As I see it you are just like Williams popping up at just the right time to get the most media attention and propose plans that are unrealistic.
7/05/2006 9:45 AM
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