Pay to be late for Musk Hts teachers

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WOOD) - Teachers in the Muskegon Heights school district were told they will not receive their regularly scheduled paycheck on Feb. 17.

Interim Superintendent Dave Sipka told 24 Hour News 8 the teachers will be paid on Feb. 21.

The reason for the delay is because the district relies on state aid it receives monthly, and that aid doesn't arrive until Feb. 21. The paychecks will be turned around that same day.

Sipka said that this likely won't be the last time paychecks are late.

"While we anticipate MHPS staff paychecks may be delayed by a few days in February and March, we are working closely with state officials to ensure there are no further delays," said a statement from Dave Sipka. "Our goal is to strengthen the district both financially and academically."

The district released a statement Thursday evening explaining that if it cannot make March 16 payroll, paychecks will be distributed on March 20.

There could also be a problem making payroll in April and May.

The district is currently about $12 million in debt overall. About $1.5 million of that is owed to the Michigan Public Schools Retirement System.

If that agency decides to garnish those important monthly state aid payments, the district "will not be able to meet payroll in April and May."

"It doesn't matter," said Muskegon Heights High School PE teacher Leonard Vines. "Whatever happens, happens. I'm just going to do my job and leave it as is."

Vines said that right now, he's focusing on what he can do and just trying to ride out the storm.  

"I come to work everyday, do my job and let it be," said Vines. "I just hope everything just comes out okay."

In late 2011, the district asked the state to appoint an emergency financial manager, and a review team is now in place to determine if the district should get one.

The school district asked for an emergency manager after several years of big budget deficits.

A preliminary review by the state found "probable financial stress."

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Online:

Read the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District's FAQ sheet, which answers some questions about the district's current financial state.