Board adopts state‑required paid maternal leave policy

The Rogers School District Board of Education adopted a policy implementing the state law that provides up to 12 weeks of paid maternal leave for eligible employees following birth or qualifying adoption. Dr. Hill presented model policy language based on Arkansas School Board Association guidance and the recent legislative action.

In the presentation, Dr. Hill noted the statute covers leave tied to birth or adoption of children under age 1 and that leave tied to foster placement followed by adoption is not stackable (the policy does not allow two separate 12‑week periods for foster then adoption). The board changed the policy text as presented by substituting "maternal" for "parental" to align the policy wording with the statute as explained in the meeting.

Board members asked whether the state pays substitution costs for classroom coverage; Dr. Hill said the state pays the substitute cost (described in meeting as paying the sub cost or average sub cost) while the district continues to honor employee contracts. The measure passed by voice vote after a motion and second; the board directed administration to implement the new policy.

The new policy applies to certified and classified personnel in separate but identical policy statements and follows state direction on how the sub costs are handled.