Board approves new paid time-off model for certified staff; public commenter urged fair pay

The Sheboygan Area School District Board on Monday approved a revised paid time-off policy for certified staff that combines personal and sick leave into a 10-day PTO bank, establishes an extended health leave bank and adds limited bereavement days.

Jamie, an HR staff member who presented the proposal, described the change as a consolidation of existing leave categories. Under the adopted approach, staff will receive 10 PTO days usable for personal, vacation or sick leave. Unused PTO may roll into an extended health leave bank capped at 60 days; once employees reach the cap they may be eligible for a payout at a rate discussed in the policy. The policy also adds up to three paid bereavement days (separate from the PTO bank) and allows staff who have capped their extended-health bank to donate one PTO day per school year to a colleague in need. Presenters said legal counsel reviewed the donation provisions because of tax and reporting considerations.

Before the policy discussion, Penny Absa, PhD, a 30-year teacher who identified herself as an employee of the Sheboygan Area School District, used the community-input period to urge the board to consider “fair pay” for certified staff as it reviews the preliminary budget. Absa cited national data showing a persistent teacher pay gap and urged the board to avoid balancing the district budget on the backs of staff.

Board discussion of the PTO centered on flexibility and parity with private-sector practices. A board member called the change “progressive” and said it demonstrated trust in staff professionalism; others asked about administrative oversight and the privacy/procedural safeguards for donated days. Presenters said donation requests will funnel through Human Resources and that employees must sign release forms consenting to any disclosure needed to solicit donations. Legal staff flagged IRS and tax-law considerations that shaped the donation language.

The board voted to approve the PTO policy and related policy updates (policy numbers referenced in board materials). A roll call showed unanimous consent on the motion at the public meeting; the motion was recorded as carried.

Budget presenters also provided a brief update on the preliminary district budget. Staff reported small revisions since the April draft: a modest expense reduction from staff turnover, restoration of a James Madison teacher position after updated enrollment figures, and a $65,000 transportation savings from lower-than-expected bus-camera bids. Staff said they will return in June with a final preliminary budget and again in October with the adopted budget. No specific dollar amounts for total district revenues or the final budget were adopted at the meeting.