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5401 - Sick Leave

BOARD POLICY No. 5401

SICK LEAVE

I.   Paid Sick Leave for Certificated and Classified Contracted Staff Members

The district will grant each certificated and classified staff member of the district sick leave days annually in accordance with RCW 28A.400.300 and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Unused sick leave days may be accumulated from year-to-year up to a maximum of one hundred eighty days for the purposes of RCW 28A.400.210 and 28A.400.220, and for leave purposes up to a maximum of the number of contract days agreed to in a given contract, but not greater than one year.

The district may require a signed statement from a healthcare provider for any absence in excess of five consecutive days. Pursuant to WAC 296-128-660, if the district requires such verification from a nonexempt staff member and the staff member believes obtaining verification would result in an unreasonable burden or expense, the staff member may contact Human Resources orally or in writing. Verification must be provided to the district within 10 calendar days of the first day a nonexempt staff member used paid sick leave to care for themselves or a family member.

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/designee.

II.  Attendance Incentive Program for Certificated and Classified Contracted Staff Members

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:

A.  To receive remuneration for unused sick leave 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

B.  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 an eligible separation from employment as set forth in RCW 28A.400.210 and Chapter 392-136 WAC.

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 and proper documentation of court appointment as administrator of the estate must be submitted to the district office.

III.Additional Paid Sick Leave Provisions

A.  Nonexempt Staff Members

Nonexempt staff members are covered by the sick leave provisions of RCW 28A.400.300 and are also covered by the sick leave provisions of RCW 49.46.210 and Chapter 296-128 WAC beginning January 1, 2018.

In general, the sick leave benefits provided under RCW 28A.400.300 are more generous than those required by RCW 49.46.210 and Chapter 296-128 WAC. Below, however, are some of the rights that nonexempt staff members are entitled to under RCW 49.46.210 and Chapter 296-128 WAC:

  1. Nonexempt staff members must accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every forty hours worked.
  2. Nonexempt staff members are entitled to use their accrued paid sick leave beginning on the ninetieth calendar day after the commencement of their employment.
  3. Nonexempt staff members may use paid sick leave to care for themselves or their family members, when the staff members’ workplace or children’s school or place of care has been closed by a public official for any health related reason, or for absences that qualify for leave under the Domestic Violence Leave Act.
  4. Nonexempt staff members must be permitted to carry over at least forty hours of paid sick leave.
  5. Retaliation against a nonexempt staff member for lawful exercise of paid sick leave rights is prohibited.
 

Cross References:

Board Policy 5406 - Leave Sharing

Legal References:

RCW 49.46.200                Paid sick leave

RCW 49.46.210                Paid sick leave – Authorized purposes – Limitations – “Family member” defined

Chapter 296-128 WAC     Minimum Wages

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

Chapter 392-136 WAC     Finance — Conversion of Accumulated Sick Leave

AGO 1964 No.98              Sick leave for certificated and noncertificated employees

AGO 1980 No.22              Limitation on compensated leave for school district employees     

Adopted by the Board: January 7, 2003

Revised: September 2, 2003

Revised: April 17, 2018

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