The Chadron School Board last night repealed the policy that created a “sick bank,” a pooling of personal leave days that employees can tap when they use up the 10 days provided each year.

While the sick bank for classified employees hasn’t been used in 2 years, the one for teachers saw 53 days withdrawn last year at cost of $34,000 to the district from paying both the teacher using the day and the substitute taking their place in the classroom.

The program was begun about 15 years ago and its language is in the teachers’ current contract. Teachers’ union president Willie Uhing urged the board to either leave the program alone or wait until some type of replacement is in place.

Board president Sandy Roes says the district’s legal counsel considers the sick bank a bad business practice that should be eliminated, especially since teachers can already bank up to 50 unused leave days.  The district not longer separates sick days from personal days, with each teacher having 10 days a year of personal leave that can be used at their discretion.

Since it is a policy, the board can act unilaterally and negotiate with the teachers as part of the next contract. Roes says doing that now gives both sides a year to look for alternatives.

Uhing said a few teachers abused the spirit of the sick bank by using all of their leave days for non-health reasons, then turning to the sick bank when medical needs arose…but that the vast majority used it as intended.

His biggest worries were those who exhaust their leave while battling a disease such as cancer and new teachers who haven’t had the chance to save up days…especially young teachers who become pregnant.

Roes says the board share’s Uhing’s concerns and wants to work closely with the teachers on the issue in the coming weeks and months.

Board members Tom Menke and Keith Drinkwalter voted against eliminating the policy right away, preferring to work on alternatives first.