俄克拉荷马州要求教师退还高达5万美元的奖金,该州称这些奖金是“发错了“
2024-02-04 大号儿童 5010
正文翻译

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — With four young children and a fifth on the way, Kristina Stadelman was ecstatic after qualifying for a $50,000 bonus for taking a hard-to-fill job as a special education teacher in Oklahoma. She used the money to finish home improvements and buy a new car for her growing family.

俄克拉荷马城(美联社)- 克里斯蒂娜·斯塔德尔曼有四个年幼的孩子,第五个孩子即将出生,她因为成功应聘到一份难以填补的特殊教育教师工作,而获得了一笔5万美元的奖金,让她欣喜若狂。她用这笔钱来完成家居改造,并为她不断壮大的家庭购买了一辆新车。

Then a letter arrived from the Oklahoma State Department of Education: It told her she received the money in error and must repay it, quickly.
“I don't obviously have the money to pay it back by the end of February,” Stadelman said. “I came home the day I found out and just cried for two days straight."
The errant payments, first reported by Oklahoma Watch, and the repayment demands have Oklahoma's education agency drawing fierce criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, some of whom say teachers shouldn't be forced to give the money back. Average teacher pay in Oklahoma is about $54,800, which ranks 38th in the country, according to the National Education Association.

随后,奥克拉荷马州教育部门寄来了一封信:告诉她她是错误地获得了这笔钱,必须迅速偿还。 “我显然没有钱在二月底之前还清它,”Stadelman说。“我当天回到家听到这个消息就哭了两天。” 据《奥克拉荷马观察》首次报道,错误的支付和追要回款要求引起了共和党和民主党议员的强烈批评,其中一些人表示不应该强制教师返还这笔钱。根据全美教育协会的数据,奥克拉荷马州教师的平均工资约为54,800美元,排名全国第38位。

The bonuses were awarded under an Oklahoma program that is intended to help recruit new teachers for the most difficult jobs to fill, including early elementary and special education. In the wake of the mishap, Oklahoma legislators are looking to overhaul the program to prevent paying the bonuses in a lump sum and implement a more rigorous screening process.

这些奖金是在俄克拉荷马州的一个计划下授予的,旨在帮助招募填补最难招聘的工作,包括早期小学和特殊教育教师。在这次错误发放后,俄克拉荷马州的立法者正在考虑改革该计划,以防止一次性支付奖金,并实施更加严格的筛选过程。

A department spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on how many bonuses were paid in error or how it intends to claw them back. Oklahoma Watch reported that at least nine teachers were asked to return bonuses ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. A total of $185,000 went to teachers who didn't qualify for the program at all, and $105,000 was overpaid to teachers who qualified for a lesser amount, the outlet reported.

美国司法部发言人没有回应记者的置评请求,即有多少奖金被错误发放,以及该部门打算如何追回这些奖金。据俄克拉何马观察报道,至少有9名教师被要求退还1.5万至5万美元不等的奖金。据该媒体报道,总共有18.5万美元给了根本没有资格参加该项目的教师,10.5万美元给了资格较低的教师。

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, who implemented the program, suggested in a memo sent Monday to legislative leaders that some of the errant bonuses were because teachers had “misrepresented their experience and qualifications.” He blamed the media for much of the fallout.

实施该计划的州公共教育主任瑞安·沃尔特斯(Ryan Walters)在周一发给立法领导人的一份备忘录中表示,一些错误的奖金是因为教师“歪曲了他们的经验和资格”。他指责媒体造成了很大的影响。

“The press has jumped the gun on their reporting, excluding vital details on the contracts and our auditing system,” Walters wrote in the memo, obtained by The Associated Press. “The fact of the matter is that over 500 teachers were recruited to Oklahoma classrooms through this program.”

沃尔特斯在美联社获得的备忘录中写道:“媒体在报道时操之过急,忽略了合同和我们审计系统的重要细节。”“事实是,通过这个项目,俄克拉荷马州的教室招募了500多名教师。”

Still, lawmakers from both parties have leveled fierce criticism at Walters and the agency.
“As a former teacher, I cannot imagine the anxiety something like this would induce — to be deemed eligible and to receive a large bonus in my bank account, only to be told months later I must return it," said state Rep. Rhonda Baker, a Yukon Republican and chair of the House Common Education Committee. “It was up to the State Department of Education to provide proper oversight in the vetting and approval of the bonus recipients.”

尽管如此,两党议员都对沃尔特斯和该机构提出了激烈的批评。
育空地区共和党众议员、众议院共同教育委员会主席朗达·贝克说:“作为一名前教师,我无法想象这样的事情会引发多大的焦虑——我被认为符合资格,在我的银行账户中获得一大笔奖金,但几个月后却被告知必须归还这笔钱。”“在审查和批准奖金获得者的过程中,应该由州教育部提供适当的监督。”

Stadelman told the AP that her bonus came to about $29,000 after taxes. She said her blood pressure spiked after she got the letter, which said she was ineligible because she had previously been employed as a full-time special education teacher in another district last year, even though she said she indicated that on her application.

Stadelman 告诉美联社她的奖金经过税后大约为29,000美元。她说,收到信后,她的血压飙升,信上说她不符合资格,因为她去年曾在另一个区担任全职特殊教育教师,尽管她说她在申请时已经说明了这一点。

It's not the first time that Walters, a conservative Republican who leads the department and who has embraced culture-war issues like book banning and targeting transgender students, has come under fire for alleged misspending of public funds.

这不是沃尔特斯第一次因涉嫌滥用公共资金而受到抨击。沃尔特斯是教育部的保守派共和党人,他支持禁书和针对跨性别学生等文化战争问题。

A state audit of a federal COVID funds for the Governor's Emergency Education Relief fund, or GEER, during the time when Walters served as the governor's education secretary found more than $1.7 million was spent on non-educational items such as kitchen appliances, power tools, furniture and entertainment.

在沃尔特斯担任州长教育部长期间,对应急教育援助基金(GEER)的联邦新冠病毒资金进行的一项州审计发现,超过170万美元被用于购买厨房电器、电动工具、家具和娱乐等非教育用途。

Walters also faced criticism after the news outlet The Frontier reported this month that he expensed more than $4,000 on travel for out-of-state speaking engagements, media appearances and a horror movie premiere, despite the governor's executive order banning public spending for most travel outside of Oklahoma.

新闻媒体the Frontier本月报道称,沃尔特斯在州外演讲、媒体露面和恐怖电影首映式上花费了4000多美元,尽管州长的行政命令禁止在俄克拉荷马州以外的大多数旅行中使用公共开支,但沃尔特斯也遭到了批评。

评论翻译
Sara
Every payment should be reviewed independently. If the payment was a result of fraud on the part of the teacher, then, by all means, demand repayment and fire the teacher. But if it's the fault of the agency (which it sounds like it is), then all actions to recoup the payments should cease immediately and the director should be fired along with any employee who made the mistake in making the payments in the first place.

每笔支付都应该独立审查。如果付款是由于教师欺诈造成的,那么请要求退款并解雇该教师。但如果是机构的过错(听起来像是这样),那么所有追索支付的行动应立即停止,并解雇负责支付的主管以及任何在首次支付时犯错误的员工。

Karl
It's pretty easy to figure out what happened given that everyone competent quit shortly after Walters took office. They were having problems meeting deadlines. So they almost certainly decided to approve the applications before checking eligibility in order to meet approval and payment deadlines.

很容易发现发生了什么,因为沃尔特斯上任后,所有能干的人都离职了。他们遇到了满足批准和支付期限的问题。所以他们几乎肯定在检查资格之前就批准了申请。

Stephen
Since this teacher did not misrepresent or omit any information, the Dept can not claim she did anything wrong. I was overpaid by Social Security, by their own admission on their part, so I am repaying it at $20/month with no interest, because it was their mistake and nothing I did wrong. So if she has to pay it back, I suggest a similar repayment plan.

由于这位教师没有歪曲或省略任何信息,因此部门无法声称她做错了什么。我也曾被社会保障局过度支付,而他们自己承认这一点,因此我正在以每月20美元的利息免费还款,因为这是他们的错误,我没有做错任何事情。因此,如果她必须还款,我建议采取类似的还款计划。

Jerry Frisque
You just can't make this stuff up. A program is launched to aid the education system. People join and are paid. Someone says it was a mistake and all the money must be returned, which of course is impossible since those receiving the funds in good faith, spent it in good faith. And the Superintendent when asked how something like this could happen, dragged out the old canard "IT'S ALL THE FAULT OF THE MEDIA!"

简直难以置信。一个旨在帮助教育系统的计划启动了,人们加入并得到支付。然后有人说这是个错误,所有的资金都必须退回,当然这是不可能的,因为那些诚信接受资金并用于正当目的的人已经花掉了这笔钱。当被问及这样的事情怎么发生时,校长竟然使用了老掉牙的说辞“这全是媒体的错!”

John MC
Sorry, but the burden should be on the Oklahoma State Board of Education to be sure that they are paying the right people for the right reasons. Expensive mistake that should be on them, not the teachers that were paid.

抱歉,但责任应该落在俄克拉荷马州教育委员会身上,他们应该确保为正确的原因支付给正确的人。这是一个代价高昂的错误,应该由他们承担,而不是那些受到支付的教师。

Ed
"Average teacher pay in Oklahoma is about $54,800" which includes Superintendents, Principals, Coaches and other Administrators that really ups the "Average". The average actual teachers make much less. Low $40's or $30's. Articles like this always include the upper paid non actual teachers to make it sound better than it is.

"俄克拉荷马州的平均教师工资约为54,800美元",这包括督导、校长、教练和其他管理人员,这些人员的薪酬使得平均工资看起来比实际情况要好。实际教师的平均工资要低得多,只有40多万美元或者30多万美元。这种文章总是将非实际教师的高薪包括进去,让情况听起来比实际情况要好一些。

Jonathan
Cut the pay of state legislators by 20% to recoup the money. They made the mistake...THEY should pay for it.

通过削减州议员的薪水20%来收回这笔钱。他们犯了错误...他们应该为此付出代价。

ShutdwnRepubs
Apparently, the Oklahoma Public Education dept messed up and they need to take responsibility for their actions. Shifting and deflecting the blame is becoming the norm.

显然,俄克拉荷马州公共教育部门搞砸了,他们需要对自己的行为负责。转移和推卸责任正在成为常态。

Badomen
Teachers, we had a similar situation in another state back a few years ago. We all stuck together - forcing their hand to come after us. They decided to let us keep the monies.

老师们,几年前我们在另一个州也遇到了类似的情况。我们团结一致,迫使他们来找我们。他们决定让我们保留这笔钱。

Anthony Smith
Of course this is not the government's fault. It never is. I hope to live long enough to see a government official take responsibility for a mistake they have made.

当然,这不是政府的错。从来都不是。我希望我能长寿到看到政府官员为他们犯的错误承担责任。

worldspacex
Yes, I was shocked when I heard what happened, news organizations in Oklahoma interviewed people that were paid and then asked to give it back, and the stories are heart-wrenching, Oklahoma needs to take accountability for it's mistakes and actions and let the payments stand, then make sure that payments in the future are correct, I wondered if this was a publicity stunt to let people know in the United States that Oklahoma is dolling out big bucks. Let me explain how it really is, the last 20 years Oklahoma teachers have been the lowest paid in the nation, overworked at a job they love, it's only recently that the state is paying teachers what they should have earned in the first place, the little ones that they teach are the Nations future leaders, and deserve better.

是的,当我听到发生了什么事情时,我感到震惊。俄克拉荷马州的新闻机构采访了被支付工资后被要求退回的人们,他们的故事令人心碎。俄克拉荷马州需要对自己的错误和行为负责,并让这些支付保持不变,然后确保未来的支付是正确的。我想知道这是否是一个宣传噱头,让美国人知道俄克拉荷马州正在支付巨额资金。让我解释一下真实情况,过去20年里,俄克拉荷马州的教师一直是全国待遇最低的,他们在一份热爱的工作中过度劳累。直到最近,该州才开始支付教师应得的薪酬。他们所教的孩子是国家未来的领袖,他们值得更好的待遇。

Abby
That's not ok. Teachers don't make enough money as it is. Then if you consider a hard to fill, special education job in some of those tougher districts - you need to offer hazard pay pretty much. If they got the bonus, mistake or not, you don't take that away. You'll never get anyone to fill the jobs that way.

这太不好了。教师的收入本来就不足够。如果考虑到那些更艰难地区的特殊教育工作,你几乎需要提供危险津贴。如果他们拿到了奖金,无论是错误还是否,你都不能让他们退回去。否则,你将永远无法招到人来填补这些职位。

Goodie
Fire all those responsible for asking the teachers to pay back, use the money saved to pay back the state if that is what the elected representatives desire. Vote said representatives out.

解雇所有要求教师返还奖金的责任人,利用节省下来的资金来偿还州政府,如果选举代表需要的话。将这些代表投票罢免。

Wolfpack95N
Oklahoma was in DIRE need of teachers SO they came up with this. Now, that the numbers are a lot better, even IF IT IS ONLY A FEW, they NOW have a 'fairly' sufficient amount. Hate to say it BUT OK HAS TO AND SHOULD 'eat' this mistake.

俄克拉荷马州迫切需要教师,所以他们想出了这个办法。现在,尽管只有一些人,但数字好多了,他们现在有了一个“相当”足够的数量。不得不说,俄克拉荷马州必须承担这个错误,并且应该承担。

Chris
You can bet Walters won't take any responsibility. As for any empathy, don't count on it from him. He has displayed utter disdain and vitriol at teachers since he got elected. He could care less about what hardship or anxiety this might cause these new teachers. $50,000 is not enough of a bonus to end up working in a state with a fascist in charge of education.

你可以肯定Walters 不会承担任何责任。至于同情心,别指望从他那里得到。自从他当选以来,他对教师们表现出了彻底的蔑视和恶言相向。他对这些新教师可能遭受的困难或焦虑毫不在意。在一个教育部门由一个法西斯主义者掌控的州工作,5万美元的奖金还不足以弥补。

Ben
Ryan Walters is what happens when you hire someone based on ideologic alignments rather than qualifications for the job.
FYI, most superintendents have a doctorate from a reputable university; Walters has a bachelors from a clown college.

Ryan Walters 就是当你根据意识形态而不是工作资质来雇佣某人时所发生的事情。顺便说一下,大多数教育局长都拥有一所声誉良好的大学的博士学位;沃尔特斯只有一个小丑学院的学士学位。

D
Yes! And he probably was only elected because of straight-party-voting. The other candidate had a strong background in education and a long-standard career in the field, and was far more qualified than he could ever be.

是的!他可能只当选是因为直接党派投票。另一位候选人在教育方面有着丰富的背景和长期的职业生涯,在资历上比他更加合格。

Richard
If this money were bonuses for the owners of corporations, you can believe it would be asked to be paid back. Republican actions show they dont give a hoot about the working class. Unfortunately, their voters just zero in on their rhetoric and promises.

如果这笔钱是给公司老板的奖金,你可以相信,这些钱会被要求偿还。共和党的行动表明,他们根本不关心工人阶级。不幸的是,他们的选民只关注他们的花言巧语和承诺。

Yeet the rich!
Oklahoma can afford to let them keep the money. They steal plenty from people that drive on I44 in tolls. There are no toll booths to pay with cash and they send you a bill with a late fee tacked on. Unless you buy a pike pass, you get scammed. It is an Interstate Highway, which should not be a toll road.

俄克拉荷马州有能力让他们保留这笔钱。他们偷了很多在I44公路上开车的人的钱。没有收费站可以用现金支付,他们会给你寄来一张附加滞纳金的账单。除非你买一张通行证,否则你会被骗。这是一条州际公路,不应该是收费公路。

bill
These types of things irk me. When an institution makes a financial mistake, they say it is their fault, but you have to return the money. If they don't, then they are charged with theft. If you make the mistake, bite the bullet and move on.

这种事情让我很恼火。当一个机构犯了财务错误时,他们说是他们的错,但你必须归还这笔钱。如果他们不这样做,那么他们就会被控以盗窃罪。如果你犯了错误,咬紧牙关,继续前进。

doc
No one should take up for these administrative errors. Oklahoma ranks 48th in education, yet administrative salaries are way out of line. Time to cut their salaries and give them to the teachers.

没有人应该为这些行政错误辩护。俄克拉荷马州在教育方面排名第48位,然而行政薪酬却远远超出了合理范围。是时候削减他们的薪水并将其给予教师们了。

john
Just another example that republicans can't Govern. If I were a teacher in Oklahoma I would move and not go back until they elected some people with honor, integrity and common sense. Three things republicans across this Country are sadly lacking.

这只是共和党人不能治理的又一个例子。如果我是俄克拉荷马州的教师,我会搬走,并在选出有荣誉、诚信和常识的人之前不回来。这是全国各地共和党人可悲的缺陷。

Bad Mofo
He blamed the media for much of the fallout. ? Is the media cutting the checks, not doing their due dillegence in verifying that they qualified for those bonuses is on the administrator.

他将很多后果归咎于媒体。?是媒体在开支票,而不是在验证他们是否有资格获得这些奖金方面没有尽到应有的职责,这是行政人员的责任。

Richard Kelley
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters is the worst administrator the system has ever had. He is more focused on his career in politics than running an efficient education system. I don't know what the remedy would be that would force him out of his position but it needs to be done.
This is an abomination. Teachers are underpaid as it is, and to dole out money and then demand it back is beyond the pale.

俄克拉荷马州公共教育主任瑞恩·沃尔特斯是系统有史以来最糟糕的管理者。他更关注自己在政治上的职业生涯,而不是高效运营教育系统。我不知道什么措施能迫使他离开职位,但这必须做到。
这真是太可怕了。教师们本来就薪酬不足,把钱发放出去,然后又要求拿回来,简直无法容忍。

DavidT
"We apologize," said the Republicans in charge. "We didn't mean to imply we had respect for you or what you do. We're happy to keep our state near the bottom of the lists."

"我们道歉,"负责的共和党人说道。“我们并不意味着我们尊重你们或者你们所做的工作。我们乐于让我们的州名列倒数。”

Yikes
You notice that the first thing he comes out with is that the teachers are lying and purposely trying to defraud the govt. This guy is a tool, and not a sharp one.

你注意到他说的第一件事就是老师们在撒谎,故意企图欺诈政府。这个家伙是个工具,而且不是一个聪明的工具。

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