Saucon Valley board will publish FMLA items using employee ID numbers to protect privacy

The Saucon Valley School Board voted to change how employee medical Leave requests appear on the public agenda, directing staff to use employee identification numbers rather than employee names for items related to the Family and Medical Leave Act.

The decision followed public comment from employees and teachers who described the harm of listing medical leaves by name. Bob Kakmar, speaking as a district employee, said that publishing names “inevitably invites speculation and discussion that should never occur in a public forum” and urged the board to adopt numbers on agenda postings. Teacher Robin Heenheimer told the board that seeing her name on a public agenda during a past medical leave felt “like a violation of my privacy,” and said that searchable board documents can permanently reveal sensitive health information.

Board members debated the scope of the change. Several members and the administration clarified that the amendment applies to what is published on the board agenda only and does not limit internal communications or a board member’s ability to speak about personnel matters during meetings. The motion approved by voice vote adds the practice to board agendas for FMLA items; the board left open the possibility of discussing other categories of leave later.

The board approved related FMLA leaves as consent agenda items earlier in the meeting. Administrators said the change is intended to balance the board’s transparency obligations with employee privacy. The motion instructs administration to implement the employee-number practice for FMLA agenda entries and to continue required communications with families or staff as appropriate.

The change takes effect for board-published agendas; the board said it may revisit the scope if additional leave categories are brought forward.