Orangeburg Educator Gets $84,000 For “Unused Time Off”
An Orangeburg, S.C. educator received $84,000 in back compensation for sick days and vacation time that he claims he never took off … and which he never asked to be paid for.
Melvin Smoak, Superintendent of Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5, received compensation in the amount of $540 a day for 136 sick leave days and 19 vacation days dating back nearly four decades.
“When it was presented to me, I didn’t dwell into each one of the items. … I was happy with what was there,” Smoak told the Orangeburg Times & Democrat.
Didn’t “dwell into” the items? Huh?
And of course he’s happy. Wouldn’t you be happy?
Smoak said he was willing to defer this “payout,” but apparently the school district was hellbent on paying him this exorbitant rate, which was agreed to by former Board Chairman Dr. Kalu Kalu and former trustee “the Rev.” E.T. Jones.
Incidentally, Smoak is represented by the Columbia law firm of Childs & Halligan – a.k.a. these guys.
Comments
By Mincing Words on July 9th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I am not sure I understand, Will. Are you saying that the District was under no obligation to pay Smoak for his unused vacation and sick days unless he demanded payment for them? I am pretty sure it is standard policy to pay all teachers and administrators for their unused personal days at the end of their employment, whether they ask for them or not. Are you saying that Smoak is misrepresenting the number of unused days? Again, I am pretty sure the District HR people are good at tallying leave days. Perhaps you have a problem with the rate you are quoting, the $540 for each of these days. But isn’t that his daily rate as superintendent (salary of $118,800 yearly)? So again, I don’t understand what your problem is with this. Perhaps there is more to the story you forgot to mention- such as why Smoak is separating from the District in the first place, for instance?
By disgusted on July 9th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I. Most agencies cap the number of days…use them or lose them as they say. The same for private business. Having 164 unused sick days is unheard of…
2. He was superintendent…so who checks whether he is working or not? Who keeps his time? Well, he does. Or someone that works directly for him.
This is disgusting.
But I suppose, it is for the children.
By HF on July 10th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
The schools superintendents in Marlboro and Berkeley counties also received big buyouts when leaving or retiring. Same law firm. Coincidence?