wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Knoxville College teachers sue over back pay

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8739 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05275
May 19, 2005

Knoxville College teachers sue over back pay

Separate lawsuit alleges that school president diverted bonus money 

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - Twelve faculty members at Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)-related
Knoxville College have filed a lawsuit against the Tennessee school, claiming
that they haven't been paid for nearly a year.
 
	Eleven of the instructors have filed a second lawsuit against
Knoxville College President Barbara R. Hatton, claiming she diverted bonus
money intended for them. 

	Knoxville attorney Richard Duncan says the dozen plaintiffs
constitute most of the full-time faculty at the school. 

	Both lawsuits were filed earlier this month in Knox County Chancery
Court in Knoxville. Lawsuits represent only one side of a story.

	Duncan said the faculty members are owed more than $250,000 in back
wages and benefits, and that they were last paid in June 2004. 

	In the lawsuit against Hatton, the faculty members allege that the
college's board in November 2003 raised enough money to give employees a
bonus of $100 apiece.

	Duncan said the faculty members have continued to teach without
steady paychecks because of their dedication to their students.

	"They have more than 250 years teaching experience (among) them,"
Duncan told the Presbyterian News Service. "These people have been teaching a
long time. The fact is that they're willing to continue working because they
think they're accomplishing something."

	The 130-year-old college, which has about 125 students, lost its
national accreditation in 1997 because of shaky finances.

	In that same year, Hatton became president and made the school a
"work college," where students offset expenses by serving in various work
capacities.

	The college also teamed up with private businesses to provide jobs
for students and revenue for the college. 

	Hatton had no comment when contacted by the Presbyterian News Service
on May 19. A statement issued by the school said: "Knoxville College
officials, on advice of counsel, will not comment on this lawsuit or any
lawsuit. However, everyone in Knoxville knows about the college's financial
issues. The surprise is that the college is still here."

	"Knoxville College, like some of the other PC(USA)-related
racial-ethnic schools, is in a state of financial crisis," said Beneva Bibbs,
the PC(USA)'s associate for racial-ethnic schools and colleges. "I have the
confidence of the school's board of trustees that they will be able to
resolve this issue (pertaining to the lawsuit)."

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send an email to
pcusanews-subscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org or
pcusanews-unsubscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org

To contact the owner of the list, please send an email to
pcusanews-request@halak.pcusa.org