Thought for the Day: “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt
“Be fit for more than the thing you are now doing. Let everyone know that you have a reserve in yourself; that you have more power than you are now using. If you are not too large for the place you occupy, you are too small for it.” Chester A. Arthur
Family First: Someone commented recently that if my parents or a member of my family needs me, I will be there immediately. I responded that we are fortunate to have school board policies that take care of our employees. My son needed some assistance due to a work place injury, and I am grateful that I could take a few days to help him. I will return to the office mid-week.
Even though many of our policies provide for our employees, the school board continues to work on leave polices to more equitably provide for our employees. For example, last year the school board improved the bereavement leave policy to provide more time for people to travel out of state. They also clarified that up to 3 personal days can be used without question from administration.
This year the school board is addressing the confusion created in our sick leave policy (Policy 5031), because our current policy provides for sub docks, full dock, and donated days, and we have learned that these sometimes are confusing for our employees. In addition, our “maternity leave policy” is embedded in the sick leave policy and this needs to be revised. For all intent and purposes, ACSD#1 provides 6 weeks (45 days) of paid maternity leave (sub dock), but we have learned that with donated days and the use of full dock days required for a long term substitute, the policy is inherently unfair to our employees. We currently have a committee addressing these concerns, and we hope to have a policy for the school board to consider later this spring.
Conversation, Feedback, and Recognition: Great things are happening all over the district. Please keep sharing your stories. We have collected a number of pictures and stories about our wonderful employees. Here is the LINK to our page.
Have a wonderful week!
Jubal