Fla. District Orders (Some) Teachers to Return Raises

The Broward School District based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., made a mistake and gave about 158 teachers raises two years ago. The district paid an extra $193,551 — and now it wants that money back.

But that’s a lot easier said than done. Almost 20 of those teachers have since resigned or lost their jobs, giving them very little incentive to pay up, the Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported Thursday.

Adding to the difficulty, the district doesn’t have a set policy on when to see repayment in such cases — or how to go about getting it. Two months ago, when then-Superintendent Jim Notter learned that about 59 teachers at three vocational centers had been overpaid, he decided to let it go, even though the error cost the district about $1 million last year, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Interim Superintendent Donnie Carter has not said how he plans to get back the money in the case of the 158 teachers, or which teachers the district would pursue.

However, one teacher told the Sun-Sentinel that the district wants $300 to $400 from her. So she plans to pay it back in $5 installments.