Policy: 5401

Section: 5000 - Personnel

Title: Sick Leave

Status: Active

Adopted: October 27, 1983

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Sick Leave

The district will grant each full-time, certificated and classified staff member of the district sick leave days annually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements. Unused sick leave may be accumulated on a year-to-year basis up to a maximum of the number of contract days in a contract period, not to exceed one year.

The district may require a signed statement from a health care provider for any absence in excess of five consecutive days. If sick leave benefits are exhausted, the board may grant leave without pay for the balance of the year upon the recommendation of the superintendent.

Attendance Incentive

In January of the year following any year in which a minimum of 60 days of sick leave is accrued, and each January thereafter, any eligible staff member may exercise an option either:

1. To receive remuneration for unused sick accumulated in the previous year in an amount equal to one day's monetary compensation of the staff member for each four full days of accrued sick leave in excess of 60 days; or
2. To add that year's sick leave to the staff member's accumulated sick leave.

All such leave for which the staff member receives compensation will be deducted from accumulated sick leave at the rate of four days for every one day's monetary compensation.

A staff member may cash-out all accrued sick leave at the above rate at the time of separation due to retirement, provided that the retiree provides documentation from the appropriate state retirement system. Such leave will be accrued at the rate of no more than one day per month. The district hereby adopts the VEBA III Sick Leave Conversion Medical Reimbursement Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to RCW 28A.400.210 and agrees to make contributions to the Plan on behalf of all employees in the group who are eligible to participate in the Plan by reason of having excess sick leave conversion rights. Contributions on behalf of each eligible employee shall be based on the conversion value of sick leave

The administrator of the estate of a deceased staff member may also cash-out all accumulated sick leave at the rate of one day's monetary compensation for every four days of leave. A certified copy of the death certificate must be submitted to the district office and proper documentation of court appointment as administrator of the estate.

An employee who is at least age fifty five, has ten years of service in the retirement system, and is a member of either the teachers’ or school employees’ retirement system plan 3, or is at least age fifty-five, has at least fifteen years of service in the retirement system and is a member of either the teachers’ or school employees’ retirement system plan 2 may cash-out all accumulated sick leave at the rate of one day’s monetary compensation for every four days of leave at the time of separation from employment.

Earned sick leave will not be accumulated in excess of 180 days as of December 31 of each year, except that an employee may exercise the annual January cash-out option for all days accumulated in excess of this maximum.

Legal References:
RCW 28A.400.210	Employee attendance incentive program —Remuneration or benefit plan for unused sick leave
RCW 28A.400.300	Hiring and discharging of employees —Written leave policies — Seniority and leave benefits, of employees transferring between school districts and other educational employers
WAC 392-136	Finance — Conversion of Accumulated Sick Leave
AGO1964 No.98	Sick leave for certificated and noncertificated employees
AGO1980 No.22	Limitation on compensated leave for school district employees

 

Adoption Date: 10.27.83

Ferndale School District

Revised: 05.22.97; 12.17.98; 01.28.99; 02.24.05; 10.25.07;09.30.14

Reaffirmed: 03.23.95