Vermilion Parish teacher questions the use of VeriTime

Dasha Hargrave, a Vermilion Parish teacher, had a simple question for the Vermilion Parish School Board and Superintendent Jerome Puyau.
“What is VeriTime’s purpose?” she asked.
Throughout the school year, all school employees have had to sign into or sign out at a computer using the program, VeriTime. It cost the school district $15,000 to use the program each year.
School Superintendent Jerome Puyau said the program was installed to help keep track of what employees are working more than 30 hours a week and who also qualify for ObamaCare. Puyau said teachers can sign in at their classroom computer or using their Smartphone. In the past, they all had to go into the front office to sign in.
Hargrave wanted to know what other districts use VeriTime. Puyau said he was not aware of what other districts are using.
By having employees go onto another computer that is not in the front office, Puyau said it frees up the front office secretary to do other work.
School Board member Luddy Herpin questioned why teachers, who are full-time employees and are already getting insurance, have to sign in or sign out each day at work.
“I will tell you right now, the employees feel like they are being tracked,” said Herpin. “It puts added pressure on our employees. They are professionals. Some forget (to sign in or sign out). We provide them insurance and they are salaried employees, I do not see a need for it (VeriTime).”
Paul Hebert, the assistant school superintendent, explained to everyone in the audience VeriTime was not about tracking employees. It was about the Affordable Care Act.
Hebert said it is cheaper to log into a computer than sign a piece of paper.
“It is cheaper this way,” Hebert added.