Paycheck From Prison… Not For Long

Alabama Mobile Lawmakers promise to change a law that allows a teacher to collect her paycheck from prison.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Thu, June 05, 2008 - 9:12 pm CST

A News Five investigation has lawmakers promising change.
Charlene Schmitz, 55, is sitting in a jail cell and still collecting a check from the Washington County School District.
Schmitz was sentenced Monday to ten years in federal prison for using a computer to make sexual advances on a 14 year old student, who was also her daughter's boyfriend.
Alabama's Teacher Tenure Act, which was amended by state lawmakers in 2004, forbids local school board's from firing a teacher until they are given an arbitrary hearing on the state level.
In Schmitz's case, that can't happen until after she faces state charges of rape and sodomy in a trial set to begin next November.
Schmitz will also continue to receive her $51,666 a year salary until she exhausts all her criminal appeals.
The victim's mother, Donna Marks, says the legal loophole is outrageous.
"This is a complete let down. An utterly complete let down," says Marks. "There are good teachers out there right now losing their jobs because there's no money to pay them, but they're going to pay someone that has been federally convicted and sentenced?"
We took Mark's concern to lawmakers, including Mobile Senator Rusty Glover-R. Glover, who was a member of the House of Representatives when the measure passed, insists this was not the way the law was meant to be used.
"This was a very comprehensive package that was passed and there may be some parts of it that have moved us in the right direction, but apparently there are some problems," said Glover. "This is a major problem," he said.
Even the bill's author, Rep. Terry Spicer, tells News Five he never intended for a teacher to collect a paycheck from prison.
Spicer, a democrat from Enterprise, says he will work with lawmakers to eliminate the loophole.
"I think it will certainly be the responsibility of the Alabama legislature to look at that immediately," said Spricer. "I certainly don't think any teacher or any person, be it teacher or state employee, should have the right to sit in jail and collect any type of state funding or state paycheck."

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Boondock Says:

Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 3:51 pm

You just did idjit. What do you think about us letting the school board lead by example?

Working for School Board Says:

Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 3:39 pm

To MeAmerican: I am glad that you are proud of your decision to HOMESCHOOL your children. That is what is so great about our country, you have that choice. But sometimes you should keep your “blanket opinions” to yourself. Negative comments about those that choose public education do not reflect well on you or the group that you represent. I am honored to be a part of the public education program. You have absolutely no idea what kind of morals I have or what kind of examples I live and lead by. I don’t personally feel that HOMESCHOOL is the best education outlet for children but I’m not going to slander it or the people that choose to participate in it. You should think about leading by that example. Good luck to you.

asda Says:

Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 7:55 am

This is sort of like the teacher in Baldwin County that was caught with drugs. She was paid for a year while she waited for her court date and then she was found guilty. She was still getting a paycheck.

BamaBob Says:

Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 7:38 am

Has anyone checked out this woman’s history? Kind of unusual for a sexual predator to begin their compulsion at the age of 55.

BamaBob Says:

Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 7:31 am

What a deal!

Looks like they could have come up with a way to give that paycheck to David Thomas.

MeAmerican Says:

Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 5:50 am

That’s what teachers do! They wreck society by teaching our children what to think instead of how to think. More proof that we really can’t rely on these teachers to lead by moral example.
Yes this may be a blanket comment, in fact this opinion covers every public school employee from the school board all the way down to this newest hire.

Give your children a real oppurtunity at life.

HOMESCHOOL!!!!!

DEW26M Says:

Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 4:28 am

Talk about tax dollars hard at work! What the hell kind teacher you got to be to make $51,666 a year? How come teachers always crying they broke and need more money? I wish I made almost $1,000 a week, guaranteed salary.