Something that should be implemented by Wisconsin school districts:
West Bloomfield School District to withhold pay from teachers who abused ‘sick leave’
Published: Wednesday, February 16, 2011
By RONELLE GRIER
Special to The Oakland Press
The absence of 36 teachers from West Bloomfield High School on Tuesday has been deemed “a knowing and intentional abuse of sick leave” by district officials, who intend to withhold compensation from those who misused their benefits.
The absences occurred the day after a particularly contentious school board meeting, where several parents and educators expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in the teacher contract negotiations.
As the number of sick calls began to mount, the administration moved quickly to provide adequate coverage for all of the affected classrooms. Substitute teachers were called, and administrative employees were brought in from other buildings.
“We anticipated that something like this might happen, and we were prepared,” said Pamela Zajac, public relations and marketing coordinator for the West Bloomfield School District. “Our number one priority was safety, with number two being that learning take place.”
According to Zajac, the administration does not consider 36 absences coincidental in a building where the average number of staff members using sick leave on any given day is approximately 12.
Why does a school need a marketing department? They have to go find those football players somewhere, I guess.