The Uintah School District Board of Education on Oct. 8 unanimously approved a first-reading consolidation of two leave policies into a single policy and adopted an investment policy on second reading, along with routine minutes and personnel actions.

The leave policy change combines two existing policies — one described in meeting materials as addressing career-development leave and the other covering general leaves of absence — into a single policy to be numbered and titled as the district’s leaves-of-absence policy. ‘‘Both of them reference a leave of absence for career or educational purposes,’’ Dr. Leese said while presenting the revision. He told the board the consolidated policy ‘‘will address all types of leaves of absence in 1 place’’ and that nothing substantive was being added; the goal, he said, is clarity for employees.

The board also approved an investment policy at second reading that names the business administrator as the district’s investment officer but explicitly places that officer ‘‘under the oversight of the board finance committee,’’ Troy Timothy, the district’s business administrator, told the board. Timothy said the district is not actively shifting funds out of the state’s Public Treasurer’s Investment Fund (PTIF) now — ‘‘Right now, we’re getting close to 4.5% on PTF’’ — but wants an investment policy in place to allow options if PTIF returns drop. The policy also requires biannual investment reporting to the board.

Why it matters: the leaves-of-absence policy determines how employees request and return from career, medical or educational leaves; the investment policy sets financial governance and reporting expectations for the district’s reserve funds.

Board discussion and clarifications
Board members asked for clarity on procedures and on return-to-work placement. Dr. Leese confirmed that the policy requires employees to notify the district by an early date in some cases (meeting materials referenced a February 1 notification requirement for a particular subsection), and that return placement is ‘‘comparable to when the applicant took said leave if a position is available in the district.’’ Dr. Leese and board members discussed the district’s practice of consulting building principals and the superintendent on leave decisions before bringing requests to the board.

On investments, Timothy said the policy avoids being too prescriptive so the district can follow the Utah Money Management Act and adapt as state guidance changes. The finance committee will receive oversight responsibilities and the board will receive biannual investment reports showing interest accrued and account activity.

Votes at a glance
- Consent calendar (minutes from 09/10/2025 work session and business meeting; monthly board financial update): motion approved unanimously. (Motion moved and seconded; vote recorded as unanimous.)
- Policy 5.064 (leave of absence): board moved to approve the consolidated policy 5.064 as a substitute policy and to eliminate policy 5.068 on first reading; motion passed unanimously; motion was seconded by Todd Massey. (Policy materials presented by Dr. Leese.)
- Policy 4.035 (investment policy): motion to approve on second reading passed unanimously; motion was seconded by Denise Maynard.
- Personnel changes (new hires, assignments, extracurricular coach appointments and separations as listed in meeting packet): motion to approve passed unanimously.

Formal actions recorded in the meeting packet matched the board’s votes as recorded in the minutes; all motions noted above passed by unanimous vote.

What the board did not decide tonight
Board members said the leaves policy does not create new leave types; their discussion clarified procedures and return-to-work conditions but did not adopt new operational procedures beyond the written policy. The investment policy establishes authority and reporting requirements but does not direct any immediate reallocations of district funds.

Ending
The board chair closed the business meeting after a routine consent vote and a series of informational reports. The adopted policies and approved personnel actions will appear in the district’s official policy and personnel records and are reflected in the meeting minutes.