Banker Blues

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With the AP test payment storm now complete, many Poly students have now interacted with the new banker, Lynne Amyx.
For the past few years, Poly students have faced what seems like an ever-changing banker and system.
It has confused many students and done little to assuage potential concerns about the organization of the high school’s financial system.
According to Brett Alexander, Yearbook and Speech and Debate teacher, Poly was “spoiled” by the previous banker, Lovinia Ilog.
Ilog worked as a banker at Poly for over 25 years, and had an efficient approach honed by years of experience working with the system.
She was a “well-oiled machine” as described by Alexander and many students.

After she left about a year and a half ago, the Poly community got a new banker by the name of Andrea Sanchez.
Sanchez was enthusiastic but “notoriously slow” according to sophomore Jason White.
Her hiring came at a time of a transition in Poly’s banking system from paper-based to electronic.
This transition proved difficult for her, which may have partially caused the long lines to pay for dance tickets and AP tests that plagued the school last year.

Several people said that at one point Sanchez left a vendor payment check for around $30,000 unsent, and it was found later on the bottom or a pile of papers.

In addition, she also failed to deposit over $200 in personal checks that were intended for an academic program.
Sanchez applied for a position at Wilson High School and was hired, leaving Poly.
Alexander believes that this was largely due to better alleged opportunities at Wilson than at Poly.
With the new electronic banking system well in place, new banker Amyx is well-positioned to succeed at Poly.
It is in the high school’s best interest to have a well-organized and thorough banker to keep the school and students in good fiscal order.

 

Update: A previous version of this article stated that Sanchez was transferred, however she applied for the transfer, interviewed, and it was approved.

Comments

2 responses to “Banker Blues”

  1. Claudia Yela Avatar
    Claudia Yela

    Part of the problem, as identified in this article was the lack of training from paper to electronic. LBUSD did not adequately support current bankers in this change and also the change in District oversight. The person who stayed at Poly for 25 years was under a very different regime and did not come under the scrutiny that now exists. Andrea is a very professional and conscientious employee who strives to do EVERYTHING that the District required of her. She had an accounting background, and therefore could pass the test, but lacked the every day hands on functions of a striving school community such as Poly. She came in when the existing Activities Director of also 20+years left and the new person wasn’t knowledgeable and could not provide guidance or support for her. I am the banker from Cabrillo HS, have accounting background but no ASB experience except with what I’ve learned on the job. I feel very supported by my current and past Activities Directors, Principals, Secretaries, CSO’s, IOA’s and of course my Student Store Lead. Before you go throwing stones, look at the speck in your own eye. What did YOU do to support this employee? How many people supported her and jumped in to help her when the lines swelled? Before you disparage any person, get both sides of the story. Remember, there are 3 sides, my side, your side and the TRUTH.

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  2. Valerie Avatar
    Valerie

    I am appalled at this article.

    First of all, no staff member should be discussing personnel issues with students, never mind publishing it in the STUDENT newspaper.

    Second, the person that runs this paper should know better to publish something without all the facts. Did anybody interview Ms. Sanchez? Who gave all this information? Is it truth or fact? From where or who was all this information supplied from? How credible is that information?

    I was blessed to be able to use the program, that was referred to in the article, a year longer than all the other high schools. All the banker’s, except for her, got a one day training on the program. She didn’t receive a training due to the fact she started working at Poly after the program was implemented.

    I am very disappointed to see that this article was allowed to go to print. It is terrible that a person’s reputation has possibly been tarnished due to rumors and not all the sides to a story. Even reputable newspapers and TV news makes an effort to speak to all parties. If they are unable to get the interview(s) needed they make it public that an effort was made. Nothing was said about that.

    This article basically can be compared to the National Poly Enquirer. Very Sad!!!!

    Reply

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