District says Oracle payroll rollout caused missed pay; superintendent outlines fixes and timeline

Superintendent Fredric Rosser told the Rochester Board of Education on Aug. 28 that a troubled transition to the district—s new Oracle payroll and human-resources platform caused multiple pay errors and delays for employees, and outlined steps the district is taking to correct pay and prevent recurrence.

Rosser said software defects, complicated summer pay rules, time-entry and pay-rate errors, split funding and dual-assignment complications and initial direct-deposit problems all contributed to payroll inaccuracies. He said a back-pay fix affecting about 825 employees is in progress and was expected to be issued no later than the Sept. 19 payroll, and that the administration was working to see whether it could be included in the Sept. 5 run.

Why the matter matters: staff paid late or incorrectly can face immediate financial harms (missed rent or utilities) and staffing disruptions could affect the first weeks of school. The superintendent said the district is treating payroll corrections as urgent while continuing to evaluate whether Oracle is the right long-term tool for the district.

Key steps Rosser described included printing on-site paper checks for employees who present with unpaid wages, running off-cycle check runs for affected groups, creating a cross-functional payroll triage team, adding vendor and temporary-staff support and expanding in-person training for time entry and payroll navigation. Rosser also reported additional measures: salary- and hourly-pay verification protocols that will allow employees early access to payslips for the Sept. 5 payroll, and multimodal training modules for staff.

The administration said some issues already fixed include payment for dual assignments, RTA PDI stipends, submission of certain retirement deductions, and correction of initial direct-deposit problems. Rosser also said new finance leadership (a new CFO) has begun work and is engaged in identifying remedies.

Union presence and board reaction: union leaders for RTA, BENTE and RAP were present in the meeting and several board members urged faster action and independent review. Commissioner Patterson said he will request a forensic audit; other board members urged immediate remedies to make employees whole and emphasized working with union leadership. Commissioner Santiago said the situation is a crisis and demanded prompt investigation and action on accountability and remediation.

External coordination: Rosser said he is working with vendor partners and the Council of the Great City Schools to gather peer-district experience and solutions for Oracle rollouts. He said district staff are evaluating Oracle—s overall fit for Rochester, even as they continue urgent remediation.

Numbers mentioned: Rosser said a back-pay fix impacts about 825 employees; earlier speakers referenced a broader set of impacted employees but Rosser—s operational estimate was 825 for the pending correction. Rosser described the district—s aim to reduce the volume of open payroll issues each pay cycle through fixes and training.

Board next steps and oversight: commissioners emphasized continuing oversight and frequent updates. The administration confirmed Oracle/payroll will remain a standing agenda item and that the district will keep the board and unions informed as actions progress.

Ending: The superintendent asked for patience while promising intensive daily oversight and vendor collaboration; board members said they would press for clarity, remedies and, where appropriate, audits and additional actions to protect employees and operations.