Sick Leave Bank Application
A completed application, together with a medical certificate and justification for withdrawal from the bank must be submitted to the Committee by the participating sick leave bank member or guardian. The applicant shall indicate the total number of days anticipated, in excess of sick leave to be absent from work. The Committee may request an opinion from a second doctor. Cost of the second opinion shall be the responsibility of the applicant. The Committee shall screen and approve or disapprove users of the sick leave bank.
Sick Leave Bank Explained
The purpose of establishing a sick leave bank is to provide all employees of the Board an emergency pool of sick leave days for catastrophic illness or injury above and beyond those days available from the member's accumulated sick leave and vacation leave provided the employee.
Each participant upon deletion of his/her sick leave and vacation leave available shall be eligible to apply for extended days drawn from the bank at the rate not to exceed forty (40) days during the course of the employee's employment with the School Board. (Exceptions: Those participants who are in the DROP Program will be eligible to apply for extended days drawn from the bank at the rate not to exceed forty (40) days, reduced by 20% each year they are in the program.) The employee may reapply to the Sick Leave Bank for an additional forty (40) days after waiting a ten-year period from the date of his last used day approved by the Sick Leave Bank.
Eligibility
Anyone classified as a full time employee of the Okeechobee School Board who has been employed for a minimum of one (1) full year of creditable service immediately prior to application for membership and who has a minimum of four (4) days accrued sick leave shall be eligible for membership in the bank.
Each new member shall voluntarily contribute one (1) day of newly earned sick leave during the window entry period, between September 1 and September 30 of each year.
The illness or injury must have caused absence from work without pay at least ten (10) consecutive work days. Fragmentary sick leave days in excess of sick leave will not be honored by the bank.
Exclusions
Exclusions from the Sick Leave Bank shall be elective surgery, maternity, and any self-inflicted illness or injury, and any job related illness or injury. The bank shall be applicable to the illness or injury of the employee and not to the illness, injury or death of any other person.