AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2007 > September > 27
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Get Suspended, Get A Raise
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How would you like to be suspended from work, still get all of your paychecks and be given a raise?
That’s the deal two central office employees have gotten from Atlanta Public Schools, according to today’s story by my colleague Paul Donsky.
The situation has cost taxpayers $195,000 so far.
Now, it’s not clear why Cynthia Lewis-Lunn, who worked in the school system’s finance department, or Toney Ward, who was a technology department manager, were placed on leave last June. All APS officials would say was that there was an ongoing investigation.
Ward retired two weeks ago, the same day, according to Paul, that Ward was set to face charges that he violated system policies — including falsifying documents.
Ward’s attorney told Paul that APS didn’t provide him with any details about the allegations.
Interestingly, Atlanta’s own policies say employees can’t be suspended with pay for longer than 60 days. I assume that’s to protect both the employee and the school system. Yet, these suspensions lasted for more than a year.
The school system’s attorney said suspensions can be extended during an investigation. But that still leaves one nagging little question:
How do Atlanta Board of Education members bestow raises on employees who are not only on suspension but also under investigation? I mean, was it intentional or was it an oversight?
UPDATE: Paul is now reporting that Arthur Scott, the former APS technology director, and his wife, will serve three years and two years, respectively, in federal prison for their roles in fleecing E-rate, the multimillion-dollar grant program meant to put computers into classrooms. You may recall that Scott and his partner-in-crime, Evelyn Myers Scott, pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and fraud in May.
