COMPTON—The Compton Unified School District Personnel Commission postponed its decision to pay former Senior Personnel Analyst Barbara Banks for out-of-class work she completed during her tenure.

Out-of-class work is done outside of an employee’s normal department.

Banks said she filled in as the senior personnel director before former interim Senior Personnel Director Dr. Matthew Spencer took over in July 2011.

“I kept the department functioning and signed timesheets, disciplined employees and met with directors,” she said. “This is not the first time I have come before this body for compensation as director.”

Banks wanted the issue discussed during closed session, but Spencer said it did not meet the criteria specified in the Brown Act.

“I sent the information to Attorney Howard Friedman, and he advised me that, under California law, it should be discussed during open session,” he said. “This is not a disciplinary matter. The item under consideration is whether or not Banks worked out of class and whether she should be compensated.”

Commission Vice Chair Florence Adams-Vickers said the paperwork in her packet did not include the hours she worked at the position.

“I received an email inquiring about percentages and times,” she said. “I did not break the time down into specific hours.”

Spencer said he never received anything that detailed the hours and days she spent covering the senior director’s position.

“I think Mrs. Banks had the opportunity to present the commissioners with all the documentation that supports her request for payment tonight,” he said. “The information I have is part of the documentation you received for this meeting.”

Banks said she thought the information she presented to Spencer supported her claim.

“I am not sure what everyone needs,” she said.

Commission Chairperson Tara Bonner said people must receive permission before working in a capacity other what they were hired for.

“The commissioners have always approved any interim director during my tenure,” she said. “We did not know that she filled the duties until she told the group.”

Banks did the job without authorization, Bonner said, but she completed work because it had to be done.

“In my opinion, if someone takes on a position without permission, that falls back on Banks,” she said. “If there is an emergency situation the commissioners should have received an email saying that she did the senior director’s job.”

Commission Vice Chairperson Florence Adams-Vickers said she thought Banks informed the group of her actions.

“She came to a meeting and told us about it before her vacation,” she said. “It was not on the agenda, but we agreed to pay her if she brought us documentation that detailed her time as the senior director.”

Banks said Bonner agreed to the compensation if she received the documentation.

“We agreed that Banks should be paid, and I made a motion,” Commissioner Janice Irving said. “Spencer was not employed by the district yet, and said we could not make a motion, but we did agree on this matter if we could verify the hours and days she worked as senior director.”

She said a CUSD employee received the information before Banks went on vacation, but the commissioners never received it.

The documentation must be a hard copy and not emailed, Irving said, and must break her activity down in detail.

“I will be out of town during the next meeting, but I will provide the documentation in September,” Banks said.

The Personnel Commission has suspended its meeting schedule until the group names a new director.