Win32 Virus Removal

Elementary school children eat at their desks, so cleaning the surfaces can't be skipped due to health concerns, he said.

When someone is out, Weaver reassigns others to the tasks.

"We used to have floaters," he said, explaining they would fill in for straight pay rather than overtime.

That practice was stopped when the state Department of Education told the district it wasn't permitted.

School board member Anthony Fanucci, who heads the finance committee, said the district may have to lobby the new administration to reinstate the floaters.

'It has to change'

The district is considering raising the rental fees for school buildings by nonprofit organizations and community groups. About a half-dozen rent schools on weekends, Weaver said.

The renters pay $50 a day to lease an auditorium and $12.25 per hour for a maintenance worker, according to the district's policy.

Time cards, requested by The Daily Journal, show senior building maintenance worker Fredis Rivera is paid seven hours of overtime each Sunday for setting up and clearing away for church gatherings at Max Leuchter School.

But school board Vice President Tom Ulrich points out the district is paying $30 to $40 to cover that district employee's overtime.

"The policy was put in place several years ago," Ulrich said. "It has to change."

Through March 22, Rivera's overtime totaled $27,838 this year.

A 26-year employee of the school district, Rivera said he gets the overtime because he's "very dependable and responsible."

"I never ask for it to be offered to me," he said. "If it's offered to me, I don't turn it down."

Rivera is assigned to Max Leuchter, but goes to other schools during staff shortages.

When he works on church-rental days, Rivera said, "I don't sit down and wait for the church to leave."

"I schedule the things I don't have time to do during my regular hours," he said.

'Let us handle it'

Steve Dantinne, the district's technology director, said flex time -- allowing employees to shift their work hours to accommodate work loads -- would help trim overtime in the district's technology department.