The Connection
After asking for an improvement in the flexibility of their paid time off plan for many years in their meet and confer sessions, the Sheboygan Education Association secured it for 2025! According to Stacy Wetzel, SEA’s President, “previously we were allotted 2 personal days and 10 sick days per year. Personal days had to be taken in full day increments. Sick leave was not to be used for purposes unrelated to employee's own health or health of their family members. Bereavement leaves also came from this same bank. Any unused days would be added to a sick leave bank, up to 60 days. If we had 60 days in our sick leave bank, any unused sick days were lost annually. In addition, because the previous system was only available for illness or injury, our members often missed important family events like out-of-town weddings and graduations.”
According to Tiffany Diven, SEA Meet and Confer Committee Chair, “our new “PTO” plan improves our ability to attend these important family events considerably. Although it is still new and there are a few concerns, it seems like it is going to be very popular with our members.” It includes: Ten PTO Days that are allotted each year, that may be used for vacation, sick, & personal leaves. PTO time can be used in full or half days, but there are some restrictions on the use of half days. Also, the number of full days that may be used in a row is limited to 5 and is restricted during the first and last weeks of school and adjacent to breaks. For shorter absences, like a doctor appointment of less than two hours, employees may continue to use flex time, with supervisory approval and provided they are able to cover their brief absence. In addition, employees are allotted up to Three Bereavement Days annually. SEA members may use up to three days for relatives like a spouse, parent, child, and 1 for close friend. Additionally, Two Extended Health Leave Days are available annually for personal sick use. Unused PTO converts at the end of each school year, to Extended Health Leave (EHL), that may be banked up to 60 days. Many employees have already accrued sixty days in this bank under the previous system. However, employees now must qualify under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to use their EHL. “This is perhaps the largest area of concern regarding the new system,” according to Wetzel, “but our Association is educating our members about their rights to use FMLA under state and federal law.” Annual $200 Per Day Payout Once employees bank 60 EHL days, including any residual sick leave days banked under the previous system, any unused PTO is paid out at daily substitute teacher rate, which is currently $200/day. This may be the most popular provision in the new system. “Many of our members gave back unused sick leave every year once they maxed their sixty-day bank, according to Diven, now they may be paid out for unused sick leave!”
Sheboygan Area Schools joins DePere and Appleton in implementing paid time off systems this academic year, while Pulaski and Howard-Suamico implemented similar systems in the past few years. If your local is asking for something similar and you have questions, you may email Tiffany Diven tmediven tmediven@gmail.com or Stacy Wetzel Stacy Wetzel stacywetzelsea@gmail.com for more information.
Rebate Information
Political Action Rebate: Members may request a refund of their WEAC Region 3 PAC contribution which is used for political activity by writing to WEAC REGION 3, 1136 N. MILITARY AVE, GREEN BAY, WI 54303 between Sept 1 and Oct 30, or within 60 days of joining. This information is published annually. A person’s membership will not be affected by a request for a refund. Once a Member requests a Region 3 PAC rebate, no contributions will be drawn in future membership years unless the Member specifically requests in writing to reinstate said PAC participation.
