Q. How do you use Sick Leave?

A. All certificated employees are entitled to ten days of paid sick leave per year.* Sick days not taken in one school year will be carried over to the next. Employees teaching summer school, who did not use their sick leave day, will have that day added to their sick leave balance. (Refer to Article 10.2, page 27 in the CUSD/CUEA contract)

*Psychologists, working a longer year than classroom teachers, receive one additional day of sick leave and district nurses one-half day additional sick leave.

Be sure you know how to use the substitute calling system! If you are out sick, and plan to return the next day, you do not have to call the school. It is assumed you will be returning the next day, unless you call your school secretary and inform her that you will be out an additional day. The substitute will not be retained unless you notify the school.

Q. What if you are ill and out of Sick Leave?

A. If you are out on leave for medical reasons, and you have run out of sick days, you can go on an Extended Illness Leave. This leave entitles you to differential pay (your daily rate of pay minus the sub's pay) for up to five months. However, a doctor's note is required.

Q. When can you use Personal Necessity Leave?

A. You may use up to seven days of your sick days per year for the following reasons:

Death in the family (after you have used up Bereavement Leave days which are not taken out of your sick days);

Illness of a family member that requires the unit member's attention (a prolonged illness is covered under the Family Leave Act);

An accident involving the unit member or his/her family or property;

Appearance in court as a litigant or witness under official court subpoena;

Paternity absence when a child is born;

Time needed to complete procedures for adopting a child;

A valid religious holiday;

Significant family event (except honeymoons).

Except in the case of an extenuating circumstance, you should provide advance notification to your school that you will be absent.

Q. Can you use Personal Necessity Days for personal reasons?

A. You may use three of your seven Personal Necessity days for personal use if the reason for the absence does not fall into any of the categories listed in Personal Necessity Days.
     The use of this leave is for a reason that requires the unit member's immediate attention and cannot be dealt with during non-duty hours. While this can be used for personal reasons and does not require advance notification, there are restrictions on the use of this leave;
     Reasons for which a unit member may not use personal necessity leave are listed on page 31 of the contract. For instance, personal necessity leave may not be used for vacations, extension of a school holiday, political activities, trips to accompany a spouse’s business or pursuit of an individuals own business activities. However, ONE of the seven personal necessity days may be used “as deemed necessary by the employee for any personal reason.”
     CUEA reminds all unit members to provide advance notification to their principal, except in cases of extenuating circumstances, when using personal necessity leave. This is not only contract language, but it is a courtesy to the site administrator who may have to make decisions regarding the use of the Resident Substitute.
     The District would like to remind teachers Fridays are the highest substitute usuage day of the week.
     Be sure it is correctly marked "PN" when you sign the attendance sheet and that you push the correct button when you call in for a substitute.

Jury Duty

     Certificated employees called to jury duty are provided leave with full pay. Because we are employees of a public agency there is no limit on the number of days an employee may serve on a jury.

Q. Can you still use discretionary leave days?

A. Discretionary leave (when you take a leave day for personal use and pay for the cost of the sub) is no longer in the CUEA/CUSD contract. If you need to take a leave that does not qualify as a personal necessity leave, but is less than 10 days, you may request an unpaid leave on the leave request form.
     The Superintendent or his designee will then determine whether or not to grant your leave request. You will not be paid your per diem for each day you are out on this unpaid leave.