New Tracking SystemAims To Help Chicago Manage Payroll Costs

By Bess Keller

For the Chicago public schools, keeping the books on its employees will soon be raised to a new level. With a new, $3 million timekeeping system, officials expect to cut the number of costly adjustments that have to be made because of payroll mistakes, provide more information to managers, and reduce the number of "tardies" and overlong coffee breaks.

Michael Edwards, the director of payroll and accounts payable for the school system, estimates that the change will recoup $2.6 million annually in staff time or payroll savings.

And it will make some tasks far easier, he said. For example, the new computer system will help the substitute teacher who works in five different schools in one week get the right pay. It will allow a supervisor to track a worker suspected of coming late to work every Monday. For a principal laboring over next year's budget, a few clicks will bring up the school's payroll expenditures for the staff...