SICK LEAVE BANK

ABOUT KEA'S SICK LEAVE BANK

(From SD5/KEA CBA)

12.2.9 Sick Leave Bank: In the event there is a need for additional sick leave by a teacher, sick leave may be supplemented by contributions from the Sick Leave Bank. This decision will be determined by the Association with information provided by the district regarding effective dates and leave balances. Leave may be supplemented up to the amount needed to carry that person through the waiting period before the disability insurance becomes effective.

12.2.9.1 Purpose: The purpose of the Sick Leave Bank is to provide additional sick leave days to members of the bank in the event of an illness, surgery, or a temporary disability due to an injury to them or an eligible family member. An eligible family member is a mother, father, brother, sister, child, or spouse.

12.2.9.2 Membership: Initial Enrollment: Each school year any teacher will have the option to join the Sick Leave Bank by completing the application form and submitting it prior to September 30. Teachers hired during the school year may join within the first 30 calendar days of their employment.

Each member joining will contribute one day of sick leave. Days contributed become part of the Sick Leave Bank and are deducted from the individual member’s sick leave. Sick leave days contributed may not be withdrawn.

Continued Enrollment: Each teacher initially enrolled in the Sick Leave Bank remains enrolled unless the KEA president receives written notification from the teacher or specialist requesting to no longer be a member.

12.2.9.3 Management: A Sick Leave Bank Committee shall be established and will be the governing body for the Bank. The Committee shall consist of members from the Association appointed by the KEA President. All members will remain anonymous.

The Sick Leave Bank will have a minimum balance determined by the Committee.

When the Sick Leave Bank falls below the minimum balance members of the Bank will be notified that a day will be withdrawn from their accumulated sick leave and contributed to the Bank. Members of the Bank will be given 30 days from the date of notification to communicate to the KEA president their desire to withdraw from the Sick Leave Bank. If a member elects to withdraw from the Bank within the designated timeframe, no contribution will be made from his or her sick leave. However, a member who has exhausted all sick leave as a result of an illness or injury at the time of notification for additional contributions shall not be required to make a contribution until the next enrollment period.

A member who has a minimum of 79 accumulated unused sick days may contribute a maximum of 2 days to the sick leave bank per year.

Any member of the Sick Leave Bank may request up to a maximum of 45 days of sick leave from the Bank in a single school year, unless a critical need that does not qualify the member for long term disability insurance as outlined in section 11.5 of this agreement has been demonstrated and approved by the Sick Leave Bank Committee.

A member requesting to exceed this maximum may be required to provide documentation showing they do not qualify for long-term disability insurance benefits.

The Committee will grant or deny applications to the Bank. Decisions of the Sick Leave Bank Committee will not be subject to the grievance procedure or arbitration.

Requests for use of the Bank must be submitted to the KEA president and include the following:

1. A completed Sick Leave Bank application form. Applications are available by request from the KEA president.

2. An attending medical practitioner’s statement indicating the need for the absence(s) from work and the estimated number of days required.

A member applying for days from the Bank for an anticipated need should submit their application 10 calendar days prior to his/her first required absence. Members applying for days from the Bank for unanticipated needs should submit their application within ten working days after the absence unless there are extenuating circumstances.