A Closer Look at Leaves

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If you are sick, injured, or need to visit a doctor… use your SICK LEAVE.
  • Full time employees start each school year with 12 days (96 hours) of paid sick leave. Unlike other leaves, one sick leave day equals 8 hours.
  • Sick leave accumulates from year to year up to 180 days. Sick leave is NOT “use it or lose it.”
  • In a year, up to 3 days of sick leave may be used for personal emergencies if approved.
  • After 5 consecutive days or if improper use is suspected, a doctor’s note may be requested.
  • Find out more in Article 26 of the SVEA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
 
If a family member is ill or passes away… use your NON-DISCRETIONARY PERSONAL LEAVE.
  • A combined total of 5 days (37.5 hours) of non-discretionary (bereavement & family illness) personal leave are available each school year.
  • Non-discretionary personal leave does not carry over or accumulate from year to year.
  • Bereavement: Up to 5 days of non-discretionary personal leave will be granted for the death of a family member. Up to 3 days of leave is available for the death of a close personal friend.
  • Family Illness: Up to 4 days of non-discretionary personal leave can be used to care for an ill family member. After this leave is exhausted, sick leave may be used to care for a sick child.
  • For the purposes of non-discretionary personal leave, family is defined as: father, mother, parent-substitute, brother, sister, spouse, children, anyone permanently living at the employee’s residence and considered part of the family, parent of spouse, or grandparents.
  • Find out more in Section 28.1 of the SVEA CBA.
 
If you want to do something fun… use your DISCRETIONARY PERSONAL LEAVE.
  • SVEA members receive 2 days (15 hours) of discretionary personal leave (DPL) days each year.
  • Unused DPL days accumulate up to 6 days (45 hours) or may be cashed out in full-day increments at the substitute rate of pay. Any DPL in excess of 6 days (45 hours) will be automatically cashed out at the substitute rate of pay.
  • DPL: (1) is not available the first or last 5 days of instruction, (2) must be requested at least 48 hours in advance, (3) is limited to 10% of a building’s staff (except TRS), (4) is limited to no more than 3 consecutive days, (5) must be requested a month in advance if requesting 3 consecutive days, (6) is limited to 6 employees district-wide on days immediately before/after a holiday, vacation period, or optional non-student day (more information at: svsd410.org/Page/6126).
  • Exceptions to DPL rules may be appealed to the Superintendent. These may grant these appeals in cases of unforeseen or once-in-a-lifetime events.
  • Find out more in Section 28.2 of the SVEA CBA.
 
If you get called for jury duty… use your JURY DUTY AND SUBPOENA LEAVE.
  • Leaves with pay will be granted for jury duty. Inform the district when notification of jury duty is received.
  • Find out more in Article 29 of the SVEA CBA.
 
If you want to take off a year for school, childcare, or medical reasons… request a LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
  • Leaves of absence must be requested by February 1.
  • Find out more in Article 30 of the SVEA CBA.

If you want to take an unpaid day… request an unpaid SHORT-TERM PERSONAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
  • Employees are contracted to work 185 mandatory days as shown on the SVEA Staff Work Calendar. An absence on any of these days requires approval - even when unpaid. Learn more in Section 30.10 of the CBA.
 
How to take leave…
  • Use Skyward to enter Sick, Non-Discretionary Personal, Discretionary Personal, and Judicial Leaves. 
    • If an appointment or jury service is canceled, you must zero out your leave in Skyward, cancel any substitute request, and report for work.
    • Sick Leave: Just enter a brief description such as: “Sick” or “Dental Appointment.” 1 day = 8 hours.
    • Non-Discretionary Personal Leave: An eligible relationship must be entered in the description. For example, enter: “Sick Child” or “Grandmother Passed Away.” 1 day = 7.5 hours.
    • Discretionary Personal Leave: Just enter “Personal Leave” in the description. Detail is not required. 1 day = 7.5 hours. Check the calendar at svsd410.org/Page/6126 before requesting DPL.
  • If a substitute is required, use Frontline Absence Management to request a sub.
 
Questions? Check out Part IV of the SVEA CBA or contact your SVEA building representative.