Twelve more employees are suing the Natchez-Adams School District over alleged unpaid overtime.

The employees are part of a federal lawsuit targeting Mississippi school districts for allegedly not paying overtime to hourly employees during the past three years.

The new plaintiffs in Adams County are Charlotte Payne, Virginia Good Payne, Mary L.&160;Thompson, Christina Davis, Christine Ellis, James E. Thomas, Martha Owens, Mary B. Griffin, Virginia H. Johnson, Fannie Means, Rosie L. Minor and Rachel Washington.

They bring the number of Natchez plaintiffs to 24. Most are cafeteria workers.

In efforts to settle with employees without going to court, the district has already issued about $13,000 to about 20&160;employees, said Dr. Carl Davis, superintendent.

District officials estimate they will pay about $19,000 once all the employees who are settling outside of court receive their checks.

The district also has agreed to discuss time sheets with any other employee, who has a question about overtime without going to court.

&uot;I encourage anyone that’s got an question to contact me and let us try to work it out first,&uot; Davis said.

Davis said the district will issue more unpaid overtime checks after the November school board meeting.