School board votes to advertise plan to cut max accrued vacation to 120 hours

The school board on Monday voted to advertise proposed policy updates that would reduce the maximum accrued annual (vacation) leave for 12‑month employees from 240 hours to 120 hours.

Staff presenting the update said the district carries roughly $300,000 in accrued vacation liability and described the change as a future cost‑control measure. "We would take the leave for all the qualified employees and we would go ahead and pay them down to 120 hours," staff told the board while explaining a proposed July 1 effective date for new accruals.

Board discussion focused on timing and fairness. Several members pressed for language that would protect employees who already earned higher balances and for clarity on whether reductions would apply only to hires after the effective date. Ms. Gibson said long‑tenured staff deserved clear protections, and another member asked for precise contract language explaining whether current employees would be paid down to 120 hours or be grandfathered.

The motion to proceed with advertising the policy updates was made by Ms. Knight and seconded by Mr. Carroll; the motion passed 4–1, with Ms. Thompson voting no. Staff said any change would require public notice and, if approved after the advertising period, would be phased in so signed contracts in effect at the time would not lose earned leave without compensation.

Board members directed staff to return to the board with the advertised language and a timeline for implementation and any projected budget impacts.

The board scheduled further discussion of personnel and the staffing plan at a workshop later this week; no final personnel decisions were made at the meeting.