Retiring teacher asks Elko County trustees for partial buyout of accumulated leave

Karl Marsh, a teacher who said he is retiring after 35 years at Alco County High School, used the meeting's public-comment period to ask trustees to consider compensating him for his accumulated sick leave.

Marsh described extensive unpaid contributions to the district, including mentoring teachers, creating courses, covering classes during prep periods and driving buses for student activities. "I'm here tonight to respectfully request that the board consider some form of compensation for my accumulated [sick] leave even though I understand that the contract, so far as it's written, does not require a payout," he said.

He suggested options such as a reduced buyout rate or a year of health insurance coverage as reasonable alternatives and said he did not want to "burden the district, but to seek a fair consideration based on my long standing service." The chair thanked Marsh for his service and noted that a prior request to add the matter to the agenda had been declined; the chair said, "If the board would like to move forward with this, please just let myself, Mister Anderson, or Miss Baker know so we can add it to a subsequent agenda for discussion."

No formal action was taken that night; the board indicated the request could be added to a future agenda if the board or Marsh asks for it to be considered.