Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-11
PROMISES TO AVOID
SALARY SHORTAGES
Board of Education Reas-
sures High School Teachers
in Letter.
EXPLANATIONS REVIEWED

A promise to do all in its power to
prevent shortages from occurring In
the appropriation for teachers pay In
future is contained in letter sent to
the high school teachers yesterday by
the board Of education and made pub
lie by the teachers today.
The letter was in reply to resolu-
| tions sent to the board by mass
meeting of teachers. asking for an in
vestigation to determine why the
| shortage in the longevity fund was
not discovered before the day the
| teachers were to be paid for May.
This last-minute discovery held up
| the teachers checks for two days.
Error in Office Found.
In conclusion, the reply of the
school board states:
ut is true that an error or oversight
occurred in the office of finance and
accounts of the schools, but as above
stated this did not create the condl-
ton, and the lack Of appropriation
would still have existed even II the
error had not been made.
THE board wishes to assure you
that it deplores most certainly the
delay in payment of salaries and Its
embarrassment. and will use Its best
efforts, scrutiny and direction to pre-
vent any recurrence.
Counter Reply Considered.
AS soon as the reply was received
yesterday afternoon, the teachers ap-
pointed a committee to frame
counter reply to the school board and
| this committees letter was consid-
cred at meeting of teachers at
| Mckinley High School during the
lunch hour today.
Boards Letter in Part.
The boards letter Of yesterday reads,
in part. as follows:
lowing to the overwhelming num-
| Der of changes in our teaching force
during the current year. and owing
made adjustments necessary In the
longevity pay, thus affecting the
amount required in this fund. 1t was
| impossible to foresee very long In ad-
| vance the amount OF any denclency
which might be created. Even IL IL
had been foreseen we would sun
| have been without FUNDS 10 compiete
the May payment.
The work of making adjustments
! in salaries and the consequent cor
rection of pay rolls and accounts as
| well as the unusual business conoi-
lions generally, have brought on the
| office of finance and accounts at the
| Franklin School a very serious over
| burden at a time when the office is
| insufficientlY manned with a more or
| less inexperienced force. due to low
salaries and existing conditions.
Pay Rolls Handled Jointly.
1.-The handling of pay rolls is joint
matter of the Office of finance and
accounts of the schools and OF the
Offices of the auditor and disbursins
! officer of the municipal government.
| The school financial office prepares
| the nay rolls The rolls are then
sent to the District building as re-
uuired by law for final audit ana
| accounting and for the preparation
and disbursement of checks.
| "Our office of finance and accounts
| forwarded the original roll for audit
| ing to the District building on May
%. The duplicate roll, with summary
| and late changes. was forwarded on
May q. Owing to an error in our
business office records, not discov-
cred in time, our books showed sum-
cient funds. Evidently the District
offices prepared to pay checks. but
made no final check on funds avail
able until June 2. when the shortage
| was discovered and was reported to
us on the morning of that day.
Adjustment Was Sought.
"The superintendent of schools and
! the president of the board at once
conferred with the District Officials.
eeking some arrangement for the
payment in full, but were unable to
secure an adjustment. Plans were
agreed upon for a modification of the
roll at the first possible moment and
clerical help was given the District
in eating Allf the