Substitute teachers and retired educators urge Bellevue to align sick‑leave policy with state law
Summary
Several substitute teachers and retired educators told the board Bellevue’s policy limits substitutes’ use of accrued sick leave to long‑term assignments and urged the district to allow daily substitutes to access earned sick time in line with state law and L&I guidance.
Multiple substitute teachers and retired educators urged the Bellevue School Board to revise district policy so substitutes can use accrued paid sick leave when they work short or daily assignments, consistent with state law and L&I guidance.
"The Bellevue School District is out of line with state law and policy," said substitute advocate Mike Acord, who said the district’s current rule restricts substitute sick‑leave use to long‑term assignments. Longtime substitute Debbie Nissen, who taught for 36 years in the district and now substitutes, described situations where substitutes cannot use accrued leave for planned medical appointments or short‑term illness without cancelling assignments at the last minute.
Peter Henry, a Seattle substitutes association officer speaking in support, urged two changes: allowing daily substitutes to access paid sick leave and allowing substitutes to claim earned leave even if they have not yet accepted a position for that day, so they are not forced to work while ill or cancel and create coverage chaos.
Speakers said the current policy discourages substitutes from using sick leave and can lead to contagion risks at schools. The board did not take immediate action but heard the requests and received the speakers’ perspectives for future policy consideration.
