The Union County School District will take another step into the online age when it starts paying all of its employees by direct deposit beginning in 2010.

Finance Director Lynn Lawson informed the Union County School District Board of School Trustees on Monday of the district's plans to pay all of its approximately 600 full- and part-time employees by direct deposit by January. Lawson said while the majority of the district's employees are already paid by direct deposit, approximately 125 are still paid by check. He said over the next two months these employees will be required to have a bank account and provide the district with its number so their salaries can be deposited directly into their account.

Lawson said this would result in reduced costs through greater efficiency and through the reduction and eventual elimination of the paper and other materials used for checks and financial statements.

“It will streamline the process by eliminating a redundant program, so the immediate improvements will be in effieciency,” Lawson said. “There will also be potential future savings by reducing the paper stream.”

“Once you have everybody on direct deposit you create the opportunity in the future to go totally paperless on payroll statements,” he continued. “That would mean the elimination of paper and materials.”

Lawson said in place of paper statements, the district would use email or a secure Internet site. He said this paperless, electronic system of direct deposit and financial statements is already commonplace among many businesses and school districts.

Among those already using such systems are Mary Black Hospital which Lawson said has had it in place for over a decade and the Greenville County School District.

Reinvestment

The district recently completed the online sale of nine trucks and other pieces of equipment through the govdeals.com Web site. Lawson told the board the district made a net profit of $18,139 from the sale and proposed the district reinvest a portion of those funds to purchase a new, fuel-efficient route vehicle for the maintenance department. The board unanimously approved Lawson's recommendation.

Elections

In other business, Dr. Wanda All was re-elected board chairman by acclamation while Kakie White was also chosen by acclamation to succeed Manning Jeter as vice chairman.