District employee tells board HR delay is blocking private disability payments; staff asked to follow up

A Polk County Public Schools employee used public‑comment time on June 9 to tell the board that the district’s human resources office has not completed the employer section of her private disability insurance form for nearly two months, a delay she said is causing immediate financial harm.

Nicole Pete, a district employee, told the board the unfilled employer section requires only basic employment information — dates, wages and job title — and is not a workers‑compensation authorization or medical determination. Because HR has not submitted that section, she said, her private disability insurer has not paid benefits and workers‑compensation payments were issued late and without required penalties. She said her private claim will close permanently on June 16 if the employer section is not submitted; she added that her attorney, her union and multiple district risk‑management staff (Eva Rodriguez, Laura McCabe and Brian Warren) have tried to resolve the matter without success.

"This is not a workers comp issue. This is an administrative compliance issue that is preventing me from accessing private benefits I've earned and paid for," Pete said. She identified herself as a solo mother of four who is scheduled for major spinal surgery in July and expected to be disabled through at least September.

Chair Sharpless asked Chief Collins to have staff follow up with Ms. Pete after her remarks.

What’s next: The board did not take immediate action during the meeting; district staff were asked to follow up with the employee to resolve the stated administrative issue.