File:  GCBD-1

 

SICK LEAVE PLAN

 

1.    As provided for by rules and regulations of the State Sick Leave Plan, the county

School Board has elected to participate in the Sick Leave Plan for Teachers and has adopted supplementary rules and regulations to provide additional benefits to the teachers and other employees.

2.     Allowances shall be as follows:

a.  Each full-time employee in the public schools of Rockingham County shall

     earn sick leave at the rate of one day per month of employment.  Sick leave

     is credited to the employeeÕs balance at the beginning of each contract year

     and, therefore, may be anticipated in most instances.  However, if there is

     uncertainty of the employeeÕs ability to ÒrepayÓ anticipated leave, the ability

     to anticipate such leave may be restricted at the discretion of the Director of

     Human Resources.

b.  Earnings for less than full-time employment shall be prorated accordingly.

     Example:   A ten-month employee of one-half time employment shall earn

     10 one-half days of sick leave.  If the employment arrangement is that of

     one-half days, each day, then days taken are one for one.  However, if the

     employee works 2.5 days per week, then each full day missed would equal

     2 on the employeeÕs sick leave days.  Clarification can be obtained from the

     personnel office.

c.  Regardless of full or part-time employment status, in order to participate in

     the sick-leave plan, the teacher or employee must be under contract or salary

     agreement.

d.  Employees cannot claim any portion of earned leave unless they have

     actually reported for duty for the regular contract year in accordance with the

     terms of the employeeÕs contract or employment agreement.  However,

     employees, who are unable because of personal illness, to begin when the

     new school year begins, may be allowed to use accumulated leave to their

     credit as of June 30th of the immediately preceding school year.

e.  In order to earn a day of sick leave, regardless of the portion for which

     eligible, the employee must either work or be on approved leave with

     accumulated leave to cover the absence for at least one-half of the month's

     workdays.

3.     Sick leave, if not used, may accumulate from year to year without limit. Sick leave allowances may be used when an employee has to be absent because of personal illness including quarantine, and not more than ten days in one case when the attendance of the employee is required because of illness in the immediate family or of a near relative. 

 

Even though physician certification is not required for days one through ten, immediate verbal notification of the need for use of sick leave is required to the supervisor/principal along with an explanation of the need for the absence.  In some instances, when deemed necessary and applicable, physician certification may be required depending upon the nature of the absence. 

 

 

 

8/08 RCPS                                      ROCKINGHAM COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

 

 

 

File:  GCBD-1

Page 2

 

Once an employee has reached day 11 of the absence, physician certification will be required and must be submitted within two working days to the immediate supervisor/principal. Certification must include the date the condition commenced, duration of the condition, medical facts regarding the condition, and a statement indicating that the employee is unable to perform the duties and responsibilities of his/her position.  

 

During any sick leave absence, if an employee qualifies for and requests the use of Family Medical Leave, then the appropriate physician certification forms must be completed as indicated by the Family and Medical Leave policy GCBE.  Additionally, if a contracted employee or employee under salary agreement with Rockingham County Public Schools does not qualify for Family and Medical Leave and requests sick leave for more than ten days, the employee is bound by the certification portion of this policy as indicated above. Rockingham County Public Schools affords all contracted employees and employees under salary agreements the same consideration as it applies to the sick leave policy. 

 

Upon receipt of all required documentation, a written response will be submitted to the employee by the employer.

 

4.     Sick leave may be used for bereavement pay in any one case, and not more than five days, when the attendance of the employee is required because of death in the immediate family or of a near relative.

 

5.   The Òimmediate familyÓ and near relative of an employee shall be regarded  to

 include natural parents, foster parents, step-parents, parents-in-law, grandparents,

       husband, wife, children, brother, sister, brother-in-law, son-in-law, sister-in-law,

       daughter-in-law, son-in-law, foster children, step-children and/or any relative who

       actually lives in the household of the employee.

6.    All accumulated sick leave shall terminate, except as defined in number seven below,

       upon expiration of employment.  A teacher may transfer from one school division to

 another in Virginia and likewise transfer accumulated sick leave if the School Board

       of the division to which the transfer is being made signifies its willingness to accept

       such transfer.  The Rockingham County School Board will accept a maximum of  90

       days upon the employment of an employee from any other Virginia public school

 division.

7.    If the teacher or employee returns to RCPS within 24 months of departure, previously

       existing sick leave balances will be reinstated.

8  .  Although state funds cannot be used for absences due to emergency or personal leave

  or for personal, medical and/or dental appointments, the local School Board has

        elected to allow the use of sick leave for medical and dental appointments which

        cannot be scheduled at times other than during work hours.

 

9.     Employees shall receive a statement of their accumulated sick leave with each monthly

        paycheck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8/08 RCPS                                      ROCKINGHAM COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

 

 

 

 

File:  GCBD-1

Page 3

 

 

10.       In the event an employee separates from the division, for any reason, prior to earning           leave which has been taken, the salary of the employee will be reduced by an amount           equal to the per diem for each day taken but not earned. 

 

 

Adopted:

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Cross Refs.:      GCBE  Family and Medical Leave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8/08  RCPS                               ROCKINGHAM COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD