To verify that your salary is correct go to the MNEA Paycheck Calculator at: www.mnea.com/payworksheet.xls and enter your annual salary in the correct block (“Box 1”) or print the form to calculate your salary manually. Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools uses the Metropolitan Government Payroll System (EBS). The methodology employed may seem strange because EBS was never designed to pay employees in any manner other than on a continuous hourly basis. The work-arounds that the payroll department has created to pay teachers in the manner negotiated in our contract have created much confusion. Remember you work a 201-day contract but are paid over a 210-day pay roll calendar (21 equal pays). The result is that you earn more money for each hour you work than for any hour in a weekday during the payroll period.

The EBS “paid hourly rate” (listed in the “Earnings Rate” column) represents 1575 paid hours in the school year (7.5 hours times 210 days). However, since you actually earn 201 days of paid time your “earned hourly rate” will be different. The “Current” earnings total is actually your annual salary divided by 21 pay periods—not 75 hours times the hourly rate on your check.

The result is that if you run out of sick leave and take an paid sick day or if you were hired after the first day of in-service, the deduction for unearned hours (7.5 hours times 201 days) is HIGHER than the paid hourly rate. Remember, your pay is being spread over 21 pay periods, which include a number of unpaid days off.

For problems with your check, first ask the secretary in your school who enters payroll. Al so, the EBS Help Desk (259-8427) will be staffed to answer questions on payday and the Monday following each payday.

4.2.2007

On Monday afternoon, March 26, June Keel and Kim McDoniel, Metro Government’s payroll supervisor, called MNEA leaders to a meeting to discuss payroll issues. You may be hear some payroll questions, wondering why MNEA would not agree to change payroll “back to the way it used to be.” The proposal presented to MNEA leadership on April 2^nd would have paid teachers like hourly employees. Under the MNPS payroll proposal, which was contrary to the contract, your check would have been short at fall break and at spring break due to unpaid holidays in the MNPS School Calendar. You would have been paid as you worked. Most support personnel complain profusely about their pay schedule, and this proposal would have paid teachers in a manner similar to hourly employees.

MNEA Vice President Erick Huth suggested that Metropolitan Government return to the software vendor to seek a modification of the payroll system in order to meet the obligation that MNPS has made to teachers through our contract. MNEA is firm on the point that teachers prefer 21 equal pay periods even though the change was originally proposed by MNPS three years ago.

MNEA also questioned why leaves were still not on paychecks, why some mailed paychecks are being returned, and why so many other negative issues exist in the Metro Government's administration of the teacher payroll. MNEA has gotten some indication that MNPS has begun to make this negative toward MNEA, and to say we will not collaborate. The media and others like to say that MNEA is negative and refused to collaborate, and this is not true. We are very happy to collaborate, and have on many issues, but it is not MNEA's desire to collaborate by accepting a payroll schedule that will be detrimental to teachers.

Remember, the proposal that the Metro Payroll presented to MNEA (outside of the bargaining process) was not a proposal to return to the former method of pay. It was a proposal that would have produced a check after Fall Break that was for only 7 days of pay and only 6 days on t he check after Spring Break.

2.12.2007

What about snow days? Why is there a different rate for a snow day?

Read the section below on “HOLIDAY PAY” and you will find the answer. A snow day is noted on your check at the “diluted hourly rate” not the rate at which you are paid. Your total pay for last period should be the same in the “CURRENT” column as it was the previous pay period. Your total pay in the “CURRENT” column should always be one 21st of your annual salary. If you ignore the hourly rates and focus on the total in the “CURRENT” column, you will see that your salary is the same. The snow day notation is merely a means by which payroll and the Board track snow days.

9.26.2006

Why does my paycheck show two different rates of pay?

"HOLIDAY PAY"

The first thing to remember is that MNPS teachers are paid over 21 pay periods. Thus, under norm al circumstances, you should receive one 21st of your annual pay each pay period throughout the year ending the first week in June. Always, check to be sure you received one 21st of your annual salary in the “CURRENT” column of your paycheck.

The “HOLIDAY PAY” hourly rate actually represents the rate at which you are paid. This rate is referred to in the Metro Payroll Department as the “diluted hourly rate” or the “p aid hourly rate.” If you multiply the diluted rate by 1575 hours, you will have your annual rate of pay. (1575 hours is the product of 7.5 hours per day times 10 days times 21 pay periods time.)

The “Regular” hourly rate of pay (AKA “earned hourly rate”) is computed on the basis of hours earned. During the course of the year a Metro teacher earns 1507.5 hours of pay (7.5 hours times 201 days). So, if you multiply 15 07.5 times your “Regular” hourly rate, you will have the same annual salary as you will by using the “earned” rate formula in the paragraph above.

Since you should anticipate receiving one 21st of your annual salary each pay period, always look at the total for “Regular” pay, “HOLIDAY PAY,” and leaves in the “CURRENT” column to the right of the hourly rates and add them together.

Now, look at your September 22, 2006, paycheck and you will find that it was calculated as follows:

The regular rate posted in the “CURRENT” column is one 21st of your annual salary less the deduction of 7.5 hours (one day) of “HOLIDAY PAY.” Thus, the amount in the “CURRENT” column to the right of your “Regular” hourly rate is 9 days worth of “earned 21 pay. If you add the “Regular” pay in the “CURRENT” column to the “HOLIDAY PAY” in the “CURRENT” column from the September 22 check, you will have one 21st of your annual pay (the same amount you received in the previous pay period labeled “Regular” “CURRENT”).

Now take your “HOLIDAY PAY” hourly rate and multiply it by 75 hours, you will find that it is the same as the “Regular” “CURRENT” amount on your previous paycheck. Thus, the “diluted” rate of pay is the hourly rate that is used to make both pay calculations.

Remember the “Regular” (or “earned”) hourly rate is not used for the total of “CURRENT” pay. The “earned” rate (“Regular” hourly rate) is only used if MNPS deducts pay for ti me that is not earned.

See previous posting below for other details.

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