Months after the Rochester City School District (RCSD) transitioned to a new Oracle payroll system, hundreds of employees continue to experience payment errors, prompting a protest outside district headquarters. Staff members and union leaders gathered on Thursday to demand a resolution for the persistent issues that have left many facing financial uncertainty.
Key Takeaways
- Rochester City School District staff are protesting ongoing payroll issues that began in July.
- The problems started after the district switched to a new payment platform managed by Oracle.
- While the number of affected employees has decreased, fewer than 250 people are still impacted by payment errors.
- District officials attribute the problems to system configuration defects and are working on a corrective plan.
Staff Rally for Unpaid Wages
Over one hundred district employees, including teachers and support staff, participated in a rally before a Board of Education meeting. Carrying signs with messages like "we deserve better," they voiced their frustration over missed payments and incorrect deductions that have plagued them since the summer.
The transition to the new Oracle system occurred on July 11, immediately causing disruptions. Initially, the change affected the summer pay for approximately 3,500 employees. While the district reports that 94% of those initial issues have been resolved, a significant number of staff members are still waiting for correct compensation.
Financial Hardship for Employees
Tim Bauch, a teaching assistant who attended the rally, described the severe financial strain the errors have caused his colleagues. He explained that employees are struggling to manage their essential expenses due to the unreliable paychecks.
"Big concern with whether their car notes are going to be paid. Their rent, their mortgages," Bauch said. "The struggle is real."
He also noted that the district has not met the deadlines it previously set for resolving the problems, adding to the staff's growing frustration. "Our biggest concern is the deadlines that were given to us have not yet been met," Bauch added.
By the Numbers
- 3,500: Number of employees initially affected by the July system switch.
- 94%: Percentage of initial summer pay issues the district claims to have resolved.
- <250: Number of employees still experiencing payment problems.
District Cites System Configuration Defects
District officials have acknowledged the ongoing problems and attributed them to technical flaws within the new Oracle platform. Superintendent Eric Rosser confirmed that while many cases have been fixed, a number of employees are still affected by the payroll errors.
Background of the System Change
The Rochester City School District implemented the Oracle payment platform on July 11 to modernize its payroll operations. The transition immediately led to widespread issues, with over 100 salaried teachers and approximately 700 hourly non-teaching employees initially going unpaid.
RCSD Chief Financial Officer Robert McDow provided more specific details on the cause of the delays. "We still have some configuration defects with the system which has caused delays in correct deductions," McDow stated. He expressed hope that these core issues would be fixed within the next month.
Efforts to Resolve Payment Issues
In response to the persistent errors, the district is taking several steps to provide relief to affected staff. According to officials, paper checks are being issued to some employees to ensure they receive funds while the system's problems are addressed.
The district is also collaborating with its Oracle partners to create a formal corrective action plan. Dr. Rosser has assured employees that the administration is working to resolve all outstanding payment issues by the next payroll cycle, scheduled for October 3.
Furthermore, RCSD is seeking guidance from other school districts that use the same Oracle system, including those in Philadelphia and Syracuse, to learn from their experiences and find solutions more quickly.
Backlog and Communication Challenges
In addition to payment errors, the district is dealing with a large backlog of help desk tickets submitted by employees seeking assistance. McDow acknowledged the backlog and said a plan was being developed to address it, with further discussions scheduled with the superintendent.
Despite the district's efforts to communicate its plans, many employees remain anxious about their financial stability. The rally served as a public call for more urgent and effective action to ensure all staff members are paid correctly and on time.
Attempts by news outlets to contact Oracle for a comment on its role in resolving the system's defects have so far been unsuccessful, as the company has not responded.