Board approves handbook changes to allow extra PTO for staff who work extra events, clarifies pay structure for episodic roles

The Elkhorn School Board approved modifications to the professional and support-staff employee handbooks on June 30 that create a small PTO incentive for staff who work extra extracurricular events and clarify pay approaches for episodic duties.

Under the change, employees who complete a threshold number of event assignments (for example, seven or eight assignments up to a program maximum) may earn up to three additional PTO days per school year. Staff said the intent is to incentivize employees to take on extra event work (ticket-taking, scorekeeping, etc.) where hourly pay alone has not been sufficient to fill assignments, and to provide a mechanism for staff to accrue time that can be used when they need extended leave.

Board members clarified the PTO does not roll over and that language elsewhere in the handbook governing buyouts for unused PTO would apply. The district said earned additional PTO would be tracked per school year and subject to existing buyout rules.

The board also approved clarifications about why some extracurricular assignments are paid by stipend while others are hourly: roles with predictable, regular time commitments are typically given stipends, while episodic or uncertain-time roles are paid hourly so the district pays actual hours worked. The handbook changes also include updated language on minimum yearly work hours tied to calendar changes and other technical edits.

Board members voiced support for the incentive changes and approved the handbook modifications by voice vote. Staff said the changes are intended to help staffing for events while preserving consistent compensation practices.