The teachers have the option of paying it back in a lump sum
Alan Ingram, Springfield Superintendent of SchoolsSPRINGFIELD – Local teachers, who received overpayments totaling approximately $1.2 million this year due to a prolonged payroll error, have the option of paying it back in one lump sum or over a one-year period.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Alan J. Ingram on Friday announced the plan for repayment options, which was ratified by the Springfield Education Association and approved by the School Committee.
“Our goal was always to reach an agreement that was fair and manageable for teachers and, in the end, I think that is what we have accomplished,” said Ingram. “It’s unfortunate that teachers have had to endure this experience but I let me assure them that we have learned from it and have made improvements in our system of accountability as a result.”
In total, about $1.2 million in overpayments were given out to teachers when the school district made a mistake putting a new salary schedule into effect earlier this year. The average overpayment amount was between $600 and $800 per teacher.
Teachers who choose to spread the payments over the course of the next school year will begin the repayment schedule in August. Teachers who have been terminated or resigned since the payroll error occurred must repay the funds in full this academic school year.
The plan was approved by the School Committee during a regularly scheduled meeting last night.
The repayment plan includes a provision that allows an individual to appeal to a joint committee of Springfield Education Association (SEA) and Springfield Public Schools (SPS) administration representatives for a payback period of two years because of personal financial hardships.
Since the error was discovered, the school department has conducted a full review of payroll practices, Ingram said. New measures to prevent such accidents from re-occurring include a newly created segregation of duties involving the business department, human resources and payroll and an improved system of checks and balances.
Ingram said Massachusetts General Law prohibits him from speaking specifically about disciplinary action taken against those individuals responsible for the mistake, but said disciplinary action had been taken.
The repayment schedule is the result of several negotiation sessions between the teachers union and School Department officials.