— Six Boynton-Moton teachers and one principal had not received their August paychecks as of 12:30 p.m., Wednesday.

Financial records from the Muskogee County Treasurer show seven employees were issued paychecks Aug. 24. There are 11 certified staff members and additional support staff at the school.

“We’re trying today to get everybody paid,” Superintendent Shelbie Williams said Wednesday afternoon. “We paid our summer employees. It’s just an issue of decreases in funding in state aid. It’s just cash flow.”

The superintendent was unavailable to confirm if the paychecks had been disbursed before press time.

Though some employees are missing pay, Williams has received $20,656 salary since July 16, according to the Muskogee County Treasurer records.

She received checks written to her on July 16, Aug. 6, and Aug. 24.

Williams said she received $14,000 salary in August because of her request to draw an advance against her annual salary to offset hardships she had suffered working as superintendent for the 2009-2010 school year, “at a fraction of a superintendent’s pay.”

Additionally, the school board gave Williams a raise in July, bringing her total salary to $80,000 — up from her base salary $36,000 for the 2009-2010 school year.

“Of course (it’s $80,000 now), because that’s a superintendent’s salary,” Williams said. “I’m paid by the state of Oklahoma, and it is comparable to other superintendents, maybe on the lower end of the scale, actually.”

Other Muskogee County superintendents average pay is approximately $96,000, according to State Department of Education records.

Boynton-Moton schools have been under scrutiny recently by the Oklahoma State Auditor’s office.

The state auditor is nearing the release of an audit on Boynton-Moton’s finances, which were requested by the Muskogee County District Attorney’s Office, an auditor’s office spokesman said.

The audit’s scope is from July 1, 2007 through Dec. 31, 2009.

Boynton-Moton schools struggled to stay open during 2009-2010, holding fundraisers to pay utility bills, according to a January article in the Phoenix.

When financial reports were requested Wednesday, Williams said there weren’t any to give.

“We have a new treasurer. He’s preparing a report and you can have copies and records next month when he is finished,” she said. “(At school board meetings) there was not a report given every month like we’re going to have now, down to every dollar.”

In their Aug. 16 school board meeting, members voted to hire Jack H. Jenkins, CPA, as treasurer for Boynton-Moton schools for the 2010-2011 school year, instead of the Muskogee County Treasurer Glen Scott.

According to meeting minutes from June and minutes from August (which have not yet been approved by the board), Williams was listed as giving a report on the following funds: General, building, activity, balance sheet, expense report and revenue report.

July school board meeting minutes were not available Wednesday, nor were either list of encumbrances and purchase orders listed as attached to the June and August meeting minutes.

Reach Wendy Burton at 684-2926 or wburton@muskogeephoenix.com.

At a glance

Minutes of a special meeting of Boynton-Moton Public Schools Board of Education held Monday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.

These minutes will not be officially approved by the board until the next board meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 13.

Members present: Leonard Walker, Rickey Lee, Yolanda Wiggins, Hubert Adkins and Robert Lang.

Report from Superintendent:

a. General fund

b. Building fund

c. Activity fund

d. Balance sheet

e. Expense report

f. Revenue report

The superintendent reported on bills waiting on money to arrive in the Muskogee County Treasurer’s Office; reported on open transfer time period ending; recognized hard work of cafeteria staff and secondary teachers; Jeff Ward hired to drive bus; reported on new city police officers; and grants from Pepsi-Co and Target the school is working on.

Board discussed and/or voted on the following:

2010-2011 Budget as presented by Kerry Patten, CPA, was tabled until a later date.

Approved:

• Hiland Dairy as milk supplier

• Sysco Food as supplier

• D and C Hauling as trash vendor

• Etheridge gas as fuel vendor

• Encumbrances/purchase orders

• The following people as purchasing agents for the 2010-2011 school years:

Shelbie Williams, Neta Ray, Martin Miller, Joe Mitchell, Valerie Reed, Brenda Wesley.

Executive session called to discuss temporary employment contracts of several staff members.

Return from executive session report:

All temporary contracts approved, and two teacher resignations approved.

Extra duty assignments were tabled to a later time.

Approved hiring Jack H. Jenkins, CPA, as treasurer for Boynton-Moton schools for the 2010-2011 school year.

Approved opening of new general fund banking account at Armstrong Bank.

Approved signature changes to the activity fund account at Armstrong Bank.

Approved signature changes to the tax fund account at Armstrong Bank.

Public to be heard:

Everett Lang, Angela Jackson, Rhonda Dietz, Amber Moe, and Jamie Buford addressed the board.

Approved resignation of Eugene Newton as member of the Board of Education.