Greensville County teachers voice frustration over pay issues despite claims problem is resolved
Dec 20, 2024
GREENSVILLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Teachers at Greensville County Public Schools are raising concerns about pay discrepancies they say have plagued them for months, despite reassurances from the school district that the issues have been resolved. In exclusive interviews with 8News, multiple educators described inconsistent payments, unanswered questions, and mounting frustrations over the handling of their salaries and benefits.
A Timeline of Errors and Confusion
The trouble began in October when the school division failed to deduct federal and state taxes from employees’ paychecks due to a reported software error. Teachers were informed in an Oct. 30 letter from the superintendent that the missed deductions would be spread across their November and December paychecks.
Letter sent to Greensville County Public Schools staff by the superintendent on Oct. 30.
However, a follow-up letter issued the next day stated that the deductions would no longer be applied during those months.
Letter sent to Greensville County Public Schools staff by the superintendent on Oct. 31.
One teacher, who requested anonymity, shared that the problems seemed to escalate after a key financial staff member in the district took an extended leave—a fact confirmed by the superintendent.
“When you work and you look for the pay at the end of the day and it’s not there ... it’s frustrating,” the teacher said.
Missing Payments and Healthcare Deductions
The teacher, who works in the division’s after-school program, revealed she was not compensated for the extra hours she worked in October and November, although the district insists all employees who worked extra hours were paid in November. Documents obtained by 8News contradict this claim, showing no additional pay until December.
One Greensville County Public School teacher's paystub from October, showing no healthcare costs or federal or state taxes were deductedOne Greensville County Public School teacher's paystub from November, showing healthcare costs and federal or state taxes were deducted, but no compensation for after school payOne Greensville County Public School teacher's paystub from December, showing compensation for after school pay but no deductions for insurance or healthcare
Adding to the financial strain, her healthcare deductions were not taken out in October. In November, she was charged double to make up for the missed amount. The inconsistencies, she said, have left her unsure about her actual salary.
“I don’t know what my wages are. How can I know when there are so many discrepancies?” she questioned. “I may have been paid incorrectly all along, as far as I know.”
Internet Outages and Staffing Issues
In a Dec. 19 letter obtained by 8News, the superintendent cited a second internet outage as the cause of delayed payroll processing. He acknowledged that some employees would not see their payments reflected until Dec. 23.
Letter sent to Greensville County Public Schools staff by the superintendent on Dec. 19
Despite these assurances, the teacher reported that her most recent paycheck showed no deductions for healthcare, although her after-school program pay was included.
“Zeroes all the way down,” she said, referencing the absence of deductions on her pay stub.
Teachers Left in Limbo
For many teachers, the ongoing inconsistencies have created significant uncertainty.
“We work hard, we’re taking extra time from our schedules, our family’s schedules to work for our kids, and we don’t get paid. That’s wrong,” said another educator.
The superintendent has maintained that the payroll issues are resolved. However, the teachers disagree, saying they continue to experience discrepancies in their pay.
“I choose to be a teacher. I like being a teacher. But this — another thing on top of another thing — is not something I’m looking forward to,” one teacher shared. “It contributes to the struggle teachers face every day and to my struggle.”
What’s Next?
While the school district asserts that all payroll problems have been addressed, questions remain about how and when affected employees will be fully compensated. For now, Greensville County teachers are left in financial limbo, uncertain about their paychecks and wary of further discrepancies.
Stay with 8News for updates as we continue to investigate this developing story.