Bennett said it appeared that alcohol may have been a factor in the shooting incident. Wilson County school officials apparently were notified two years ago about possible problems with a school system policy concerning compensatory time and overtime pay, problems that are only now coming to a head. On Wednesday, officials with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division said they were investigating the county school system for wage and hour violations. According to the letter, copies were given to James Whittington, who is still on the school board, and Schools Superintendent James Francis. Francis said yesterday that he is required by law to carry out the policy of the board and that it, not he, decides policy.
State law does require the school board to be the policy-making body.
Efforts to reach Whittington were unsuccessful. Associated Press content is Copyrighted by The Associated Press.