WASHINGTON, Jan 22, (Agencies): A North Carolina school district is requesting 225 teachers to reimburse $1,250 each in bonuses mistakenly issued due to a payroll error. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) district expressed regret to English teachers affected by the Jan 12 payroll mistake, which was identified on January 17 and communicated to the teachers on Jan 18, as per a statement provided to local media outlets.

Affected teachers will be given the choice to repay the bonus either as a lump sum deducted from their February paycheck or opt for a three-month payment plan. The district clarified that these bonuses were originally designated as incentives solely for new teachers to attract them to work at CMS schools.

In response to the error, the district acknowledged the potential challenges it may pose and expressed commitment to collaborating closely with the impacted teachers. The statement emphasized the value of all CMS employees' contributions and extended sincere apologies for any distress or inconvenience caused.

CMS, with 184 schools throughout Mecklenburg County, boasts a workforce exceeding 20,000, including teachers, support staff, and administrators, according to information available on the district's website's About CMS page.