School board reviews first-read policies on course payment for hard-to-staff roles, paid mental-health day and community use of outdoor fields

At its Sept. 8 meeting, the Southampton County School Board reviewed three policies as first reads: a policy to permit direct payment of tuition for coursework for employees in designated hard-to-staff positions, a policy creating a paid mental-health day for 10-month employees plus a paid “distinguished service” day for employee-of-the-month recipients, and a revision to community-use rules to allow use of outdoor school facilities at no charge.

The tuition-payment policy, drafted by HR coordinator Miss Hutchison and reviewed by counsel, would allow the division to pay tuition directly to an institution when funds are available for employees in hard-to-staff positions who receive prior approval from HR and the superintendent. The draft specifies payment covers tuition only—not books, fees or travel—and requires a one-year commitment to the district after payment; repayment would be prorated if an employee leaves before the commitment period ends. A board member asked for clearer language on the timing of the service commitment, saying the phrase “service commitment begins in the academic year immediately following payment for the course” needed clarification; staff said they would revise the wording.

The mental-health/distinguished-service policy would grant one paid mental-health day to 10-month employees (teachers, paraprofessionals and possibly some transportation staff) in addition to sick or annual leave and would grant a paid day to an employee-of-the-month. The draft limits use to within 90 calendar days of award where possible, requires 48 hours’ notice absent an emergency, and places approval into the district’s existing absence-approval system (Frontline). The policy text states employees are not required to disclose medical details when requesting the day. Board members discussed piloting the provision for one year to gather utilization data before embedding it permanently into leave policy.

The proposed community-use change adds a single line allowing outdoor school facilities to be permitted at no cost. Staff said the change was prompted by a request from the Down the Middle Foundation to use Riverdale’s baseball/softball field; the district’s attorney and insurer reviewed and raised no objection. Staff said the board will take final action after a two-week work session and a second reading at the next regular meeting.

All three items were presented as first reads; none were adopted at the Sept. 8 meeting.