SCHOOL OVERTIME QUESTIONED; EX-ADMINISTRATOR GOES BEFORE SCHOOL BOARD

Former Cape Girardeau School District associate superintendent Richard Bollwerk asked the Board of Education Monday night what it plans to do about what he called "wanton disregard for the budget."

Bollwerk questioned $10,700 in overtime paid by the district last year to bookkeepers.

Superintendent Dan Tallent and board president R. Ferrell Ervin said after Monday night's board meeting that the money spent on overtime, while not budgeted, was anticipated. They said the situation will be corrected in the upcoming budget.

A work session for the school board to discuss the budget is scheduled Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Bollwerk told board members he had discussed the matter with Tallent in August and that Tallent said the issue was being addressed by the business manager.

"Now I know Dan didn't really mean that he's not concerned about overspending," Bollwerk said. "You and I know that he has as a priority to assure that the fax machines are not overused because the toner is very expensive."

On Sept. 10, Bollwerk was accused of harassing the school superintendent and property damage for allegedly blanketing school offices with annoying fax transmissions. He has resigned from the school district and is scheduled for trial Nov. 5 on the misdemeanor charges.

Bollwerk resigned in July but remained on the payroll until Sept. 30. He spoke Monday at a time reserved for comments from the public.

Bollwerk said year-to-date financial data show that three clerical employees in the business office earned a combined total of $10,700 in overtime. Their regular salaries combined totaled $72,865. Adding the overtime raised the total to more than $83,000, or 15 percent over budget for salaries.

"The Board of Education had indicated to the public that this practice of fiscal mismanagement would not continue," Bollwerk said.

School officials didn't question Bollwerk's figures. He had requested payroll data concerning the business office during his last week in the office.

Tallent said overtime is the price the district is paying to update and automate the business office.

"Dr. (Stephen) DelVecchio was hired to try to better organize the business department and to set up a system for paying our vendors on time," Tallent said.

The answer is a more automated accounting system, but the switch-over has resulted in overtime payments, Tallent said.

"We're doing it intentionally," Tallent said. He said $10,000 is cheaper than adding a staff member with benefits.

He said the district didn't budget overtime, although it was anticipated, because it was unknown how much overtime would be needed.

As the school board and district officials look at the 1997-98 budget, the overtime issue will be addressed, Tallent said. Likely the new budget will include an overtime expenditure or a new staff position will be added.

DelVecchio said, "We have the same number of people in the department as we had 10 years ago."

Since then the district's budget has nearly doubled to $21 million. As a result, the number of transactions in the office has also increased.

Bollwerk also questioned an offer to provide Internet access to board members.

Technology reports provided to the board in September and October from technology coordinator Chris Cook include an offer for remote Internet dial-in capability for board members at their homes.

Ervin said no board members have Internet access at home provided by the school district. He said the possibility was discussed as a way to improve communication between board members, but no action has been taken.