Clarkstown Schools Fined $4,500 Over Record-Keeping for Student Workers

The Clarkstown Central School District has been fined $4,500 by the state Labor Department over its procedures and record-keeping involving student workers.

As a result of the state probe and a review of the district's operations, Clarkstown has updated its system for hiring and paying students, according to Alita Zuber, the district's director of Business Services.

Zuber said steps taken by Clarkstown to improve its practices with student workers during the state review avoided a possibly much higher fine against the district.

"It wasn't our intent to do anything improper," Zuber said. "Now were are making sure there are consistencies in the way we handle student workers throughout the district."

During the course of the year, Clarkstown hires from 60 to 80 students to assist at school functions and sporting events. Zuber said the number of students varies by season, with as few as six or eight students working during the summer ranging to the many students hired to help at events such as football games.

Zuber said problems cited by the state involved some longstanding practices that were used with student workers. For example, Zuber noted the state said the district must make certain students are paid on the same payroll timetable as other district employees. Some students were paid for their work in one lump some at the end of a season.

The state review of district records found that Clarkstown could not prove it had received the required parental permission for all student workers who were employed at an event that went later than 10 p.m.

The district was also cited for problems with the handling of working papers for students. State rules required the district keep the original certificate on file while the student is working, which had not been done.

The district was additionally cited for hiring a student worker before that student had obtained working papers. The student had obtained the papers after being hired.

Zuber said officials throughout the district have been alerted to updated protocals for hiring of student workers to esnure Clarkstown is abiding by state regulations.