By JIM BUTLER

The School Board has put off consideration of an increase in school secretaries’ pay until its June committee meetings, allowing the superintendent and staff to look for funding.

Meanwhile the administration is dealing with correcting school secretarial-level issues noted by its auditors.

Wilton Barrios Jr. said at last week’s board meeting he believes secretaries are underpaid in relation to what they are asked to do and thinks the system can find the $160,000 or so to implement a pay plan drafted two years ago, with or without differences based on school enrollment count.

Linda Burgess and George Johnson asked for a specific funding source, an answer neither Barrios, Supt. Jeff Powell nor CFO Elizabeth Domite could provide.

Sandra Franklin questioned what other employee categories might need attention and Domite called attention to potential impact on the

schedule for other secretaries’ remuneration.

Powell noted some school systems have hired specialists to deal with the accounting duties that fall at many schools to secretaries.

With those duties sometimes come issues, as Rapides’ auditors have found.

Their report in January for the year ending last June 30 found fault, again, at Mary Goff Elementary, Tioga Jr. High, Peabody Magnet High, Alexandria Senior High and Northwood High.

And, for the initial time, pointed out flaws at Bolton High, Hayden Lawrence and Arthur F. Smith.

Powell’s corrective plan includes more training for the personnel, secretaries or otherwise, involved. He also notes some systems have gone to cashless transactions.