EAGLE ARTS TEACHERS GET PAID, BUT ALL IS NOT CALM
WELLINGTON — Eagle Arts Academy issued delayed paychecks to its teachers and staff Wednesday that the cash-strapped charter school had withheld for two weeks, soothing some teachers’ worries but stirring new questions about the school’s fate.
The 425-student Wellington school was able to give teachers their back pay after receiving its monthly payment from the county school district this week, but it’s uncertain whether teachers will receive their regular paychecks in full on Friday.
Gregory Blount, the school’s executive director, told the school’s board of directors last week that, after covering the staff’s back-pay and making a payment to its short-term lender, the school would not have enough money to cover Friday’s payroll.
Blount, who did not respond to requests for comment this week, has asked parents to donate money to cover the shortfall. In a message to staff on Wednesday, he said that paychecks would be distributed on Friday but did not say whether it would be full or partial payment.
“We are finalizing the payroll approval as we speak and will have
the checks overnighted for Friday morning delivery,” he wrote. “Again, I am sorry for the delay in your paycheck and appreciate your patience.”
Regardless of Friday’s outcome, the school is likely to be out of money until the school district sends its next monthly payment in mid-May, meaning that teachers could face a long delay in receiving their next paycheck.
Whether enough teachers continue working in those circumstances is an open question that will determine whether the school remains in operation until June.
Though several teachers and administrators have resigned, most of the school’s staff agreed to work during the past two weeks without pay. But several teachers said the staff ’s patience is waning.
“Everything is made on promises,” said Marlene Ortiz, a second-grade teacher. “I don’t hold my breath on it because it may not come.”
Ortiz said that several classes have had to be combined as teachers resign, swelling the size of classrooms and making it more difficult to supervise children.
But other teachers have vowed to stay until the end of the year.
Monique Blood, a music teacher, said she was thrilled to receive her back pay and felt hopeful about the school’s future.
“I got it, I cashed it, I’m going to pay my bills,” she said as she left campus Wednesday afternoon.
Situated on a 13-acre campus, the K-8 school once had more than 700 students, but its enrollment fell this year to about 425.
Fewer students means less money from the state, even though many of the school’s fixed costs remain the same. That has made it impossible for the school to balance its books, school leaders say.
The county school board plans to close the school at the end of the academic year unless the school can balance its budget and pay more than $700,000 in back rent that it owes to the campus property owner.