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Paraprofessionals tell Rochester board payroll glitches, say pay rates leave them struggling
Summary
At a July 14 speakers forum, three paraprofessionals told the Rochester Board of Education that a recently introduced payroll system and ongoing "glitches" left some staff without pay, with one saying paraprofessionals earn "$2.75" an hour for changing and feeding students.
Three district paraprofessionals used the Rochester Board of Education’s July 14 speakers forum to press the district on payroll problems, low hourly pay and confusing communications tied to a newly introduced payroll system.
Deborah Lawson Maddox described chaotic summer-school shifts and said the new "oracle" system has caused confusion and harm. "We only get $2.75 ... for changing," she said, adding that some staff have not been paid and that morale is low.
Leila McFadden said the physical and emotional work of support staff is not matched by compensation or communication. "Whether employee opted in or not, the confusion and anxiety about paychecks shouldn't have reached this point," McFadden said, asking why pay stubs that had briefly been posted were suddenly missing.
Jennifer Anderson, a 23‑year district employee, told the board she and colleagues feel "sick and tired" of inconsistent messaging about system "glitches" and of being told improvements are coming that have not materialized.
The speakers urged the board and administration to correct payroll errors, improve individual communications so employees aren’t handed generic emails, and consider an audit of the payroll rollout and related vendor work. Board members thanked the speakers and said their comments would be logged as public testimony for the district to address.
The board did not take any formal action during the speakers forum; staff later introduced a policy-and-procedures presentation and invited follow-up questions via the board question log.
What happens next: Commissioners and staff encouraged employees to submit detailed questions to the board question log so administration can respond with case‑specific information; the district said follow-up will be posted and further discussion can occur during the next business meeting.
