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September 7, 2010

Teachers file lawsuit against MPS

By Wendy Burton Phoenix Staff Writer

— Eighteen Muskogee teachers and the Muskogee Education Association filed a lawsuit against Muskogee Public Schools.

The suit claims the teachers were not paid their $5,000 annual bonus correctly for National Board Certification.

According to court documents, the State Department of Education directed each school district in a letter dated Jan. 25, to “pay your applicant(s) the $5,000 bonus (less the applicable Social Security, Medicare and Income Tax) as soon as possible.”

Muskogee schools paid each of the teachers $4,664.88, less the applicable Social Security, Medicare and Income Tax, the court filing says.

But, not before the school deducted the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) contribution from the $5,000 bonus amount, which was not included in the instructions from the State Department of Education.

The amount is approximately $350 per teacher.

The Muskogee Education Foundation, on behalf of the teachers, requests the court to declare the amount, method and manner of paying the bonuses by the school district contrary to Oklahoma statutes and asks the court to issue relief to the teachers.

John Little, MPS chief financial officer, had not received a copy of the court documents and was unable to comment Tuesday afternoon.

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

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