The Governance Committee reviewed administrative sections on employee leave and benefits on Aug. 28 and directed district staff to check whether a board policy on sabbaticals remains in use, to confirm the employee-assistance program (EAP) coverage, and to update an outdated federal citation.
Board Member Margo Bellamy asked whether the district still grants sabbatical releases; HR staff replied that the district "does have an extended leave program where employees ... can apply for a year or semester of extended leave," but that the program is not labeled a sabbatical and that approvals follow an established process. Bellamy suggested removing a dormant sabbatical policy if it is never used.
On employee assistance programs, HR staff said there is an EAP available to all full-time employees, with a separate EAP for AEA members administered through BEHT. "All employees have access to an EAP program and those services," the staff member said.
Committee members also pointed out an outdated federal citation in the employee safety policy. One committee member noted, "we're still referencing the No Child Left Behind" and recommended replacing it with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) citation; the committee asked staff to obtain an updated model policy from AASB and to update the legal citation without changing policy text.
Members asked whether recent state or ballot measures changed leave obligations; staff said some provisions (minimum wage-related leave) likely do not apply because most district employees earn above statutory minimums, but that substitute-teacher eligibility for leave may require a legal opinion because it can depend on the number of days worked in a year.
The committee took no policy votes at the meeting; it asked HR and administration to verify whether the sabbatical policy is active and to return with suggested housekeeping changes and updated citations.