Board Advances Personnel Leave Policies; Committee to Add Miscarriage and Student‑Teacher Provisions

The board approved second readings of Policy 50.31 (paid time off and medical leave bank) and Policy 50.33 (personnel leave other), and heard that the policy and governance committee will consider additional provisions for miscarriage/stillbirth leave and student‑teaching leave before the next reading. District counsel and policy staff said the leave committee met several times during the year and recommended the current revisions. Mr. Cowper told trustees the proposed changes were committee recommendations and no additional changes were included for the present reading. Trustee Murphy asked specifically about leave for miscarriage or stillbirth; Mr. Cowper and staff said language addressing those events will be drafted and presented to the committee for inclusion in Policy 50.33 before the third reading, pending committee approval. Policy staff also said they would revisit the amount of leave provided for student teachers; staff reported a draft exists but that committee members have raised concerns the current allotment is insufficient and will return recommended changes for board consideration. Both policies passed second readings by motion and voice vote; trustees asked staff to bring proposed language back from the policy and governance committee for the third reading.