Guidelines

SECTION I - PURPOSE AND DEFINITION

A. Purpose

    The purpose of the Sick Leave Bank is to make additional sick leave days available to    
    members of the Bank in the event of a personal unexpected critical illness, surgery, or a
    temporary disability due to an injury as the balance of Sick Leave Bank may permit. Days
    may be requested from the Bank only after the member has exhausted all accumulated
    state and local sick leave days and accrued vacation days.

B. Definition of Sick Leave Days for Members

    Sick leave days from the Bank are those days granted to a member who through an
    unexpected critical illness, surgery, or a temporary disability due to an injury, is unable to
    perform the duties of his/her position. In special cases sick leave days may be granted for
    use with the illness of a family member.

SECTION II - MEMBERSHIP

A. Eligibility

    All personnel of the Pasadena Independent School District who have been employed 
    continuously one or more years and who have earned sick leave benefits from the District shall 
    be eligible for membership.

B. Procedures for Joining the Sick Leave Bank

    1. Any employee who is eligible to join the Sick Leave Bank may do so by contributing
        three (3) days of accrued or anticipated local sick leave.

    2. The enrollment period shall be September 1 through September 30. The effective date
        of membership for all employees enrolling during this period will be October 1. Eligible
        employees who do not elect to join the Sick Leave Bank at the first opportunity
        offered to them will not be permitted to join the Bank until the subsequent annual
        enrollment period.

    3. Employees desiring to join the Bank shall complete the membership application form
        and submit it to the Associate Superintendent of Human Resources. The Associate
        Superintendent of Human Resources shall verify the employee's eligibility and upon 
        approval of the application send it to the payroll department.

SECTION III - REGULATIONS CONCERNING CONTRIBUTION OF DAYS

A. To become a member of the Bank, an employee must contribute three (3) days from
     his or her accrued or anticipated local sick leave for the current school year.

B. These days will be subtracted from the member's local sick leave record or the first three
    (3) eligible days if contributing anticipated sick leave.

C. The three (3) days donated become the property of the Pasadena Independent School
    District Sick Bank. All donations will remain in force and cannot be returned even upon
    cancellation of a membership.

D. For Bank purposes, the school year will be from September 1 through August 31. If a
    member uses three or more days from the Bank during this period he/she will be required
    to donate an additional three days the following school year (September through August)
    in order to have a continuing membership in the Bank. If the member uses fewer than
    three (3) days, he/she will donate the number of days actually used.

E. If the Bank falls below two times (2X) the number of participating members on
    September 30, continuing participants must contribute one extra day effective October 1.
    If it falls below one time (1X) the number of members, each participant must contribute
    two days. Participants who join in September will donate a maximum of three (3) days
    for the current school term. This clause shall not be construed to hold the District
    responsible in the event the number of days falls below minimum requirements.

F. Contributions from current Bank members, when determined necessary by the Sick
    Leave Board of Directors, may be made from accumulated local days or from local days
    granted for the coming year.

G. Personnel who terminate their employment with the District forfeit membership in the
    Bank at the effective date of termination/retirement. If the employee wishes to regain 
    membership in the Bank upon his/her return to the District, the employee must meet eligibility 
    requirements in Section II-A.

H. Personnel on approved leave of absence will retain membership in the Bank and will not
    be required to donate additional days upon their return to active employment.

SECTION IV - REGULATIONS CONCERNING GRANTING OF SICK
LEAVE DAYS FROM THE BANK

A. Granting of days from the Bank for Members (Injury/Illness for Immediate Family -
    Section VII)

    1. "Pre-existing condition(s)" known to exist by the employee on or before the date of
        joining the Sick Leave Bank will not be covered under the provisions of the Sick
        Leave Bank.

        For the purpose of the Sick Leave Bank, "pre-existing condition(s)" is defined as a
        conditions) for which the member received medical treatment, took prescribed drugs
        or medicines, or consulted a physician during the 12 months prior to joining the Sick
        Leave Bank.

        This limitation ceases to apply on the date the member has received no medical care
        for the pre-existing condition for a twelve (12) month period ending on or after his
        effective date of membership in the Sick Leave Bank.

    2. Sick leave days from the Bank will be granted only after the member has exhausted all
        accumulated state and local sick leave days and accrued vacation days.

    3. Days from the Bank shall be granted only for critical illness, injury, surgery, or other
        temporary disabilities which necessitates an absence from work or five (5) consecutive
        days or longer. Pregnancy in general is not covered by the Sick Leave Bank.
        Complications arising from childbirth will be considered on an individual basis.

    4. Members of the Sick Leave Bank are not necessarily entitled to any days from the
        Bank or a set number of days. The number of days granted, if any, will be determined
        by the members of the board who will consider the number of days in the Bank, the
        number of pending requests and the nature and duration of the illness or injury.

    5. Sick Leave Bank days shall be granted only for absences from working days and will
        not be granted for holidays, vacation days or other such days for which the member is
        not paid. A member shall only be reimbursed up to the amount actually docked.

    6. The maximum number Sick Leave Bank days that may be granted to an employee
        during the year (September 1 through August 30) will be thirty (30) days.

    7. If a member who has received less than 30 days from the Sick Leave Bank returns to
        work and then is ill again with the same or a different illness, he/she may apply to the
        Sick Leave Bank for additional days needed, the total not to exceed thirty (30) days
        per year. Each different illness applied for must meet the initial criteria.

    8. Upon approval of the member's application by the Sick Leave Bank Board, the payroll
        department will be contacted for notification of approved Sick Bank days.
        Reimbursement will be made only in the member's next regular payroll check after the
        Board's approval of requested days.

B. Limitations

    1. Sick leave days from the Bank may not be granted for the period of disability when
        monies are paid to the member under the Workers' Compensation Act.

    2. A contributor will lose the right to utilize the benefits of the Bank if anyone of the
        following applies:

        a. Termination of employment or suspension without pay from Pasadena Independent
            School District.

        b. Cancellation of participation made by the member at any time by submitting the
            proper form.

        c. While on approved leave of absence for other than personal illness.

        d. Choosing not to pay back required number of days used in a prior year.

        e. Not contributing required days as per Section III, item E.

C. All unused sick leave days in the Bank at the end of the school year (August 31@ will be
    carried over to the next school year (September I through August 31 .

SECTION V - PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR SICK LEAVE DAYS

A. Should the member have an unexpected critical illness or injury necessitating the need for
    additional days after all accumulated state and local sick leave days and accrued vacation
    days have been used, the member may submit a request for days from the Bank.

B. A member who requests days from the Bank must submit to the Associate
    Superintendent of Human Resources with thirty (30) work days after returning to duty,      
    forms containing the following information:

    A statement signed by the member attesting to the fact that the condition which 
    necessitated the request for days from the Bank was not a pre-existing condition as 
    defined by the Sick Leave Bank Policy.

    Completed attending physician's statement which includes:

    1. Identification of the nature of the illness and/or extent of injury and certifying the 
        condition to be a disability to perform the employee's regular assigned duties.

    2. Date of initial onset of this particular condition.

    3. Anticipated date eligible to return to work.

    4. Days, if any, for follow-up examinations. (May be limited by the Board of Directors.)

C. The Board of Directors will review and forward to Payroll and the requesting member, 
     its decision on all requests to draw on the Sick Leave Bank within 15 working days after 
     such request is received by the chairperson or the Executive Officer of the Sick Leave 
     Bank.

D. Forms for the above purposes have been prepared and are available from the school 
     principal, the department head, and/or Human Resources Office.

E. The Board of Directors may refuse to consider an application that does not contain the 
     required information.

F. If a member is critically ill or unable to file an application for sick leave days from the 
    Bank the school principal, immediate supervisor, department head or family member may 
    initiate the application form.

G. An applicant may be required to undergo a medical review for a second opinion by a 
     physician of the Board's choice at any time and at the expense of the Pasadena 
     Independent School District upon the approval of the Associate Superintendent of 
     Human Resources.

SECTION VI - GOVERNING COMMITTEE

A. The governing committee shall be elected at large. The committee will approve or 
    disapprove all requests for Sick Leave Bank days and shall be called "The Pasadena 
    Independent School District Sick Leave Bank Board of Directors."

B. Composition of members of the Sick Leave Bank Board of Directors:

    1. Members of the Bank Board must have been employed by the school district for at 
        least three consecutive years prior to election.

2. Elected membership of the Board of Directors shall be comprised of the following:

    a. two teacher representatives from elementary schools;

    b. two teacher representatives from intermediate schools;

    c. two teacher representatives from senior high schools;

    d. one representative from paraprofessional staff (secretarial, clerical-aide);

    e. one representative to be elected from support employees (custodial, maintenance, food 
        service and transportation);

    f. one representative from administration (central administration staff, principal, assistant 
        principal or counselors)

    g. one representative from the nursing personnel.

    Total - Ten (10) Elected Members

3. Term of Office

    a. The term of office will be two (2) years, with initial members drawing lots for one of 
        two year terms in order to establish staggered terms. The term of office shall run from 
        September 1, and ending August 31. A member may serve a maximum of two (2) 
        consecutive terms.

4. Election Procedures

    a. Election will be held at-large during the first two weeks in October. Only members of    
        the Bank are eligible to vote.

b. Members of each employee group named previously may file as candidates from their 
    group. Candidates must file for office with the Executive Officer by September 15 of each 
    year. A form will be provided.

c. Voting will be by secret paper ballot. Ballots will be distributed through the school mail 
    and collected in each campus office. Ballots will be returned within five working days of 
    the election. The Executive Officer shall call a meeting of the Sick Leave Board of 
    Directors to tabulate the ballots no later than one week following the election. New 
    director shall be determined by plurality.

d. Librarians, music teachers, special education teachers, etc. who are members of the Bank 
    will be eligible to vote and/or be elected as representative per the "Home School" 
    assignment.

e. Professional personnel such as consultants, buyers, supervisors, diagnosticians, directors, 
    principals, assistant principals, counselors, etc. will be eligible to vote and/or be elected in 
    the administrative group.

f. Itinerant professional personnel (foreign language liaisons, Homebound) will be eligible to 
    vote and/or be elected as representatives in the senior high schools group.

g. The Executive Officer will rule on the eligibility of all other personnel not covered above 
    as to which group is to be assigned for such purposes.

h. In the event that no one files as a candidate for any one or more of the positions of the 
    Board of Directors, the Board shall fill such positions by appointment at the first Board 
    meeting following the filing deadline. The selection will be made from the group which 
    would be represented by vacant position.

C. Duties and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors

1. At the first meeting of the year for the newly elected Board Members, the Sick Leave 
    Bank Board shall select from its group a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary.

2. All applications for Sick Leave Bank days shall be reviewed individually by the Board in 
    a called meeting. A quorum shall consist of at least seven (7) Sick Leave Bank Board 
    Members.

3. A member may be requested to appear before the Sick Leave Bank Board to 
    substantiate his/her case.

4. The Sick Leave Bank Board of Directors shall determine the number of days approved 
    up to thirty (30) days and reserves the right to approve, disapprove or modify the days 
    requested.

5. A member may appeal the decision of the Sick Leave Bank Board by writing a letter to 
    the Executive Officer requesting a personal appearance before the Sick Leave Bank 
    Board of Directors.

6. The decision of the Sick Leave Bank Board of Directors will be final.

7. Vacancies on the Sick Leave Bank Board of Directors that arise during the school year 
    will be filled by appointment by the Sick Leave Bank Board Members. The selection will 
    be made from the group which was represented by the member who resigned.

8. The Associate Superintendent of Human Resources shall serve as the Executive Officer and 
    voting member of the Board of Directors and will process all approved sick leave days for
    members to the payroll department.

9. Members of the Board serve on the Board in their capacity as employees of the District.
    Any decisions made by the Board are made in the cause and scope of their employment
    with the Pasadena Independent School District. The decisions of the Board are final.|

SECTION VII - USE OF SICK LEAVE BANK FOR IMMEDIATE FAMILY

To make the bank a more significant benefit for the Pasadena ISD employees, the Sick Leave Bank has included the immediate family. This necessitates adoption of stricter guidelines to protect the Bank and the school district from excessive use of sick leave days.

A. Purpose

    To provide additional sick leave days for members whose immediate family has suffered
    catastrophic illness or injury.

B. Definition of Immediate Family

    Immediate family shall include and be limited to the spouse, naturally and legally adopted 
    children, stepchildren and parents.

C. To apply for sick leave days the members must follow the same procedures as set forth
     in illness for the employee.

D. All regulations pertaining to the use and issuing of sick leave days will also be applied to
     the illness or injury of the family member.

E. Regulations that pertain to the use of the Bank for members of families:

1. The Bank will provide sick leave days to members only after they have experienced loss
    of five (5) days relating to injury or illness of family members in the current application.

2. The maximum number of days that may be granted to an employee for use with the
    sickness or injury of a family member is fifteen (15) days.

SECTION VIII - EXTENDED DAYS FOR EXTREME HARDSHIP DAYS

Upon a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors, the Board may provide a member up to thirty (30) additional days or fifteen (15) additional days for the illness of an immediate family member in extreme hardship cases. Individuals who request extended days from the Bank as defined in Section VIII, will be required to reimburse the Bank one (1) additional day for a total of four (4) days.

SECTION IX - FINAL DECISIONS

Procedures for deciding any questions not covered herein:

Any questions concerning membership, regulations, or application for sick leave days that may arise after adoption of this plan and not specifically covered herein, shall be submitted to the Board of Directors of the Sick Leave Bank, who will make a final decision.

SECTION X - EVALUATION, ASSESSMENT AND AMENDMENT PROCESS

A. At the end of the first and all subsequent years of the Bank, a review of the program will
     be made by the Board of Directors of the Sick Leave Bank. The Board of Directors has
     the power to raise or lower maintenance requirements of the Bank based upon their
     review. Notification of the changes will be made to the membership prior to the
     September 1 of the year the change would be effective.

B. Any substantial change in this program must also be approved by the Board of Trustees
     of the Pasadena Independent School District.

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