District staff outline PTO buyback plan, deadlines and eligibility for certified and PNT employees
Summary
Human resources staff briefed the board on a PTO buyback plan for certified and PNT (professional non‑teaching) employees: employees with at least three years of district service may buy back up to 40 hours if they retain a 240‑hour bank; notice due Sept. 30; payout moved to December; tiered payout percentages apply.
District staff gave the governing board an update on the proposed paid-time-off (PTO) buyback policy for certified and professional non‑teaching (PNT) employees.
Kathy Sheppey, a district staff member presenting the item, said the plan agreed during interest‑based bargaining allows eligible employees to buy back up to 40 hours if they maintain at least a 240‑hour PTO balance. "Eligible members would have to be in the district at least 3 years," Sheppey told the board.
Key details presented by Sheppey included: - Eligibility: active certified, PNT and administrative employees with a total of at least three years in the district (years need not be consecutive); classified staff and substitutes are not eligible under the current agreement. - Buyback cap: up to 40 hours provided the employee keeps 240 hours in the bank. - Notice deadline: employees must submit the buyback notice by Sept. 30 (the district has sent multiple notices and will pull submissions on Oct. 1). - Payout timing: district and IBB agreed to move payout from January to December on a non‑pay payday. - Salary basis: buyback is calculated against salary schedule level 1 from the prior year (the payout uses the previous year’s base).
Sheppey said the district has a Google form for employees; business and finance will compile submissions after Oct. 1. She reported 154 submissions as of her most recent check. The board had clarifying questions about consecutive service rules and whether retirees who return would qualify; staff said returning employees would start accruing again and could qualify if they meet the year requirement.
Why it matters: The buyback plan provides a paid‑time‑off cash option for long‑service staff and includes explicit eligibility, timing and payout rules; the board heard clarifications but did not take an approval vote on a policy change at this meeting.
No board motion on the policy itself was taken; staff reminded those present that the buyback notice deadline is Sept. 30.
