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Warren County board approves first reading changes narrowing how paid parental leave may be used
Summary
The board approved first reading of a revised family medical leave and paid parental leave policy (Policy 5.305) that narrows eligibility and requires paid parental leave to be taken in consecutive blocks or in one-week increments; district leadership urged clarifying language because the policy is difficult to administer in intermittent-day use.
The Warren County Board of Education approved on first reading changes to Policy 5.305 (family medical leave) that revise eligibility and how paid parental leave may be used.
Under the revised policy presented to the board, paid parental leave requires three conditions: (1) the employee must hold a license or emergency credentials required for the position; (2) the employee must have been employed full time in the Warren County district for at least 12 consecutive months; and (3) the employee must hold a valid license or emergency credentials issued by the state department of education. The policy also clarifies that paid parental leave should be taken consecutively and that, if allowed in smaller increments, those increments should be no less than one week unless the director of schools determines an exception.
Robin (policy staff) reviewed statutory-driven changes supplied by the Tennessee School Boards Association and said the state clarified standards since the board last updated the policy. The director of schools noted administrative strain under the prior, more fragmented approach: “We have some employees ... that would take one day here or every Friday ... and so it became very difficult to find a replacement or a sub,” the director said, urging the board to consider maintaining some flexibility for extenuating circumstances while keeping the policy administrable.
Board members approved the policy changes on first reading and discussed returning in July with possible revisions to the increment language. The transcript records a motion to accept the policy on first reading and a later notation that the motion carried.
