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.
  • If a scheduled medical appointment is canceled, you must zero out your leave in Skyward, cancel any substitute request, and report for work as usual.
  • Find out more in Article 25 of the SVEA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
  • While it's not yet included in our SVEA contract, under Washington State's paid sick leave law, sick leave may also be used to care for the following family members: children (This may include a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, or child you are legally responsible for.), parents (This may include your biological, adoptive, or foster parent, your stepparent, or someone who was your legal guardian or their spouse or registered domestic partner – or a person who was legally responsible for you when you were a minor.), spouses, registered domestic partners, parents-in-law, and grandparents.
 
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 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 27.2 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 days each year.
  • Unused discretionary personal leave days accumulate from year to year up to 5 days or may be cashed out in full-day (7.5 hour) increments at the substitute rate of pay. Tip: Don't lose your personal leave. Since personal leave can only be accumulated to 5 days and can only be cashed out in full-day (7.5 hour) increments, be sure to use any remaining partial-day increments of personal leave above 3 days (22.5 hours) before the end of the school year.
  • Discretionary personal leave: (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 Two Rivers School), (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 5 employees district-wide on days immediately before/after a holiday or vacation period (more information at: svsd410.org/Page/6125).
  • Exceptions to discretionary personal leave rules may be appealed to the Superintendent. The Superintendent may grant these appeals in cases of unforeseen or once-in-a-lifetime events.
  • Find out more in Section 27.3 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 to serve jury duty is received.
  • If, at any time, you are informed that your services are no longer needed, you must zero out the leave in Skyward, cancel any substitute request, and report for work as usual.
  • Find out more in Article 28 of the SVEA CBA.
 
If you want to take off a year to go back to school or for medical reasons… take a LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
  • Leaves of absence must be requested by April 1.
  • Find out more in Article 29 of the SVEA CBA.
 
If you’re having a child or want to take time off to care for your child… use CHILD CARE/PARENTAL LEAVE.
  • Find out more in Article 30 of the SVEA CBA.
 
How to take leave…
  • Sick, Non-Discretionary Personal, and Discretionary Personal, and Judicial Leaves must be entered into Employee Access (Skyward).
    • 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.
  • If a substitute is required, use Aesop (Frontline Absence Management) to request a sub.
 
Questions? Check out Part IV of the SVEA CBA or contact your SVEA Building Representative.