Aldine I.S.D. Teacher Handbook - Aldine Independent School District

C. ELIGIBLE USE OF STATE DAYS
With the May 30, 1995 signing of Senate Bill 1 passed by the 74th Legislature, state sick leave
benefits ceased to be earned. All state sick leave days ("state days") accrued prior to that date may be
used only for an illness of the employee, an illness or the death of a member of the employee's
immediate family, or a family emergency. None of those days are carried forward for use as
personal business days or for personal leave. State days may be transferred to another school district.
To the extent that an employee has an accumulated balance of state days available for use and the
absence is not for a personal emergency, state days are used immediately after all personal days are
used and before any local days are used unless the employee designates on the TR-3 form submitted
for that absence that a state day is to be used before the personal day is to be used.
D. ELIGIBLE USE OF LOCAL DAYS
Employees may earn additional sick leave ("local days") to be used for absences for an illness of the
employee, an illness or the death of a member of the employee's immediate family, a family
emergency, or a personal emergency. Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, local sick leave
accumulates indefinitely from year to year. Local days may be used only after all personal days and
all eligible state days are used. Local days are not transferable to another school district.
If an employee has used all personal days for an illness of the employee, an illness or the death of a
member of the employee's immediate family, a family emergency, or a personal emergency, the
employee may request to use a maximum of two (2) local days to be used for absences due to
extenuating and unforeseen circumstances involving serious personal or financial hardship. The
request must be made prior to the absence from duty. Denial of the request shall be at the
supervisor's discretion.
E. ACCRUAL OF SICK LEAVE
Each year, personnel employed 100% of the day accrue personal days and local days with each
category accruing at a rate of one-half (1/2) day for each eighteen (18) days of employment.
Personnel employed less than 100% of the day, but at least 50% of the day accrue sick leave at a rate
of one-half (1/2) day for each thirty-six (36) days of employment. Not more than five (5) personal
days and not more than seven (7) local days shall be earned in any year.
F. APPROVAL OF SICK LEAVE REQUESTS
Employees who are unable to report to work and who wish to use sick leave must notify their
immediate supervisors as quickly as possible. Those who do not do so will not receive any sick leave
benefits for the absences. Not later than the day of returning to work, employees shall submit to their
immediate supervisors a request for sick leave on the form adopted by the school district. In order to
be paid promptly for absences, which qualify for sick leave benefits, employees must submit the
forms in time to be included in the principals' reports to the payroll department. If the employee was
absent for five (5) or more consecutive days for personal illness or for three (3) or more consecutive
days for an illness in the immediate family, the request for sick leave shall be accompanied by a
"Certification of Illness" from a physician who is duly registered and licensed under the Medical
Practice Act of Texas, a licensed doctor of dentistry, a licensed chiropractor, or a licensed podiatrist.
If the employee is a member of the Christian Science Church, the request may be accompanied by an
attestation from a Christian Science practitioner.
G. RECORD KEEPING
Records shall be maintained to show the accumulation, use, and remaining balance of each
employee's sick leave benefits. Sick leave earned or used is recorded in one-half (1/2) days and
whole days only. An absence for two (2) hours shall be recorded as an absence for one-half (1/2) of
a day. Beginning on July 1, 1998, sick leave days to be earned during the year may be advanced and
may be used prior to being earned only for employees who are in their first school year of
employment with this school district and who have not participated in the state minimum sick leave
programs prior to employment with this school district. Employees who have exhausted their
available sick leave balances due to illness or injuries and who are experiencing illnesses or injuries
that prevent them from performing their duties may apply to the Superintendent of Schools for
advancements of sick leave to be earned during that year.
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