Paychecks for over 5,000 employees in the Henry County School District have been delayed due to disruptions caused by the recent winter storm, Superintendent Dr. John Pace, III, confirmed on Friday. Originally scheduled for Friday, January 24th, payroll will now be issued on Wednesday, January 29th.
In an email sent to staff, district leaders attributed the delay to operational challenges created by the storm, which closed schools and offices across the metro area. Dr. Pace issued an apology, acknowledging the strain this has placed on employees and their families.
“First and foremost, let me apologize to our employees for the impact this delay has had on them and their families,” Pace stated, emphasizing that getting paychecks out remains the district’s highest priority.
The announcement left many employees concerned about meeting financial obligations. Danisha Henderson, a middle school teacher in the district, shared that the delay has created uncertainty for staff who rely on timely paychecks.
“The economy isn’t cheap these days. Some of us live paycheck to paycheck,” Henderson explained, adding that many colleagues have bills set to auto-pay. “The world doesn’t stop.”
Questions arose about whether the district could have notified employees sooner. Dr. Pace acknowledged the concerns and said the district would evaluate its processes to prevent similar issues in the future.
The superintendent pointed to the storm as the primary cause of the delay, explaining that payroll staff began processing checks earlier in the week but were forced to leave the office due to hazardous weather conditions.
While some speculated that the district’s new employee portal, AccessHCS, may have contributed to the issue, Pace clarified that the portal was not a factor. Instead, he reiterated that certain tasks could not be completed remotely and required physical access to district facilities.
As of Friday, Dr. Pace remained firm on the timeline, assuring staff that the payroll would be completed by Wednesday.
Henry County is the only metro Atlanta district currently reporting payroll issues related to the storm.
