School board discusses splitting 2025–26 supplemental pay to improve recoverability

Board members discussed options for distributing a supplemental payment for the 2025–26 school year, including whether to provide a single lump sum in October or divide the money into two payments to reduce recoupment losses.

Dr. Betty Washington asked staff for counts of employees who received full versus prorated supplements and requested the criteria staff would use to recover funds. The superintendent described prior recoveries and the operational challenges of changing payroll schedules. "We did send a report in terms of what we've recovered In terms of, the amount of money, I wanna say it was about $250,000," the superintendent said; later in discussion staff clarified the recovered amount as $248,800 to date.

Supporters of a two-payment approach said splitting the supplement could improve the district’s ability to recover overpayments and spread payments for employees. One board member moved to adopt a two-payment system; several members indicated agreement and the board asked staff to prepare two distribution options for formal consideration in October. A board member noted both unions had been contacted and expressed no opposition to a two-payment approach.

The board did not record a formal roll-call vote on a final adopted policy at this meeting; direction to prepare options and return in October was the actionable outcome. Staff and payroll were asked to confirm deadlines required to implement either option and to report back before the board’s October meeting.

Next steps: staff will return with two written options for the distribution schedule and the numbers requested by Dr. Washington so the board can decide prior to the October payroll deadlines.