(WBFF) — Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, a nonprofit that provides arts educators to Baltimore City schools, is facing growing scrutiny after eight instructors said they have not been paid for their work in months.

Founder Dermell Brunson now says those teachers knew there would be delays – a claim their attorney argues is both false and illegal under Maryland labor law.

At issue is accountability over public dollars and labor rights. The taxpayer-funded nonprofit continues to receive contracts with Baltimore City Public Schools even as former instructors allege wage violations that could expose the organization – and potentially the school district – to legal and financial liability.

Brunson told Spotlight on Maryland that the educators signed short-term, project-based contracts and were “freelance, independent” contractors, not employees. “Invoices are subject to processing delays,” he wrote in an email. Educators were “well aware when hired.”

But attorney Howard Hoffman, who represents the eight educators, said that explanation does not absolve the nonprofit of its legal obligation to pay on time.

“These workers were statutory employees under wage and hour laws,” Hoffman said in a statement. “This employer cannot hide behind any contract provision that excuses its failure to pay due to ‘processing delays’ or whatever they allege.”

Maryland law requires employers to pay workers at least twice a month and also points out that any agreement to work for less than minimum...

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