A North Carolina school district mistakenly gave several teachers bonuses they weren't entitled to, and now the teachers are being asked to pay them back.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District announced in a statement that 225 high school English teachers mistakenly received a $1,250 hiring bonus on off-cycle salaries paid on January 12, 2024.
The bonus was aimed at new teachers hired in areas facing severe shortages.
The district says the teachers who received bonuses when they shouldn't have received them are not the first in the region to face bonus shortfalls.
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Empty desks are lined up in front of a whiteboard. School classroom interior. (St. Petersburg)
The district said, “This was an unfortunate oversight.''
District officials also said 225 teachers who received bonuses were incorrectly receiving a $200 monthly retention bonus. However, that bonus was also mishandled.
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Hundreds of teachers in North Carolina have been forced to pay back bonuses they mistakenly received. (St. Petersburg)
The compensation department did not become aware of the overpayment until January 17, 2024, and the following day notified all employees who received the additional payment of the error via email.
District officials said overpaid employees will have the option of repaying their bonuses all at once from their February checks or paying them back over the next three months through deductions from their checks.
The district said it “understands the challenges this mistake may have caused and is committed to working closely with each teacher affected.” “We respect the work of all CMS employees and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or inconvenience this may cause.”
