CERTIFICATED STAFF

Definition

Catastrophic illness and/or accident is defined generally as follows:

1. Has appearances of causing a permanent disability; or


2. Requires an unusually long recuperative period. (Examples: cancer, heart disease, accidental head trauma, etc.)

Purpose

This special policy will provide extended pay for catastrophic illness after a professional staff employee has used all of his/her accrued sick leave, personal leave, wellness leave and vacation and is still unable to work.

This provision will provide the continuation of an employee's salary until such time said employee is able to return to work or such time a decision is reached concerning possible disability retirement or other disposition of the case.

If said employee is unable to return to work at the end of sixty (60) school days, the committee must review the request for additional days to be used from the Catastrophic Health Pool. In any case, the benefits of this policy shall not exceed a total of 120 school days for said employee.

Allocation of Days

Each professional staff employee contributed one (1) day sick leave at the beginning of the 1987-88 school year, when this policy was originally adopted. Each professional staff employee will contribute one (1) day sick leave when employed. Each new professional staff member shall have the policy explained to them by the Superintendent.

If the number of days remaining in the pool is reduced to twenty-five (25) or less, the committee may recommend to the Superintendent the transferring of one (1) day from each professional employee's individual sick leave to the Catastrophic Health Pool, with written notification to each employee.

Termination of an employee's services within the District also terminates membership in the Catastrophic Health Pool.

Eligibility

All District professional staff members shall be eligible to receive benefits upon being deemed in need of benefits from said account.

Eligibility shall be considered by the Catastrophic Health Committee based upon:

1. Application of employee to the committee;


2. Certification of disability by a medical doctor and diagnosis as to possible length of illness or disability.

Eligibility will be established provided:

1. The applicant has used all of his/her individual sick leave;


2. The applicant has experienced loss of five (5) consecutive days pay due to illness or disability;


3. The committee determines that the applicant fully qualifies under the provisions and intent of this policy.

The employee, after approval by the committee, shall keep the committee informed as to the status of his/her health.

The Catastrophic Health Committee has the authority to review the status of an employee who is currently using days from the Catastrophic Health pool.

The requirements stated herein will be required for each application regardless of whether or not the professional staff member has previously drawn from the Catastrophic Health Pool during that year.

Catastrophic Health Committee

A committee for the Catastrophic Health Policy will be composed of the following and shall evaluate each application and make a decision of eligibility based upon the merits of the individual case:

1. The Superintendent of Schools;


2. Four (4) professional staff members shall be elected by their representative levels to be distributed as follows: one senior high school, one junior high school and two elementary. Each elected member shall serve for two years. Terms shall be staggered so that two professional staff members will be new each year. In case of vacancy, a professional staff member from that level shall be elected to serve the remainder of the term;


3. The principal of the appropriate school will serve as a nonvoting ex-officio member.

Elections to select the required committee members will be held annually.

Administration

Upon establishment of eligibility, the Superintendent shall authorize a deduction to the Catastrophic Health Pool, providing full benefits to the employee until a determination is made as provided herein.

Appeal

Any professional staff member may appeal a decision of the committee to the Board. The appeal shall include:

1. A letter to the Board stating:
   
   
   1. A desire to appeal the decision of the committee;
   
   
   2. Reasons for appeal
   
   
   3. Relevant, supportive information.
   
   


2. Upon receipt of appeal, the Board shall notify the employee of the date and time to consider the appeal. This appeal should be heard within the next two (2) regularly scheduled Board meetings.

The decision of the Board will be final.

SUPPORT STAFF

Definition

Catastrophic illness and/or accident is defined generally as follows:

1. Has appearances of causing a permanent disability; or


2. Requires an unusually long recuperative period. (Examples: cancer, heart disease, accidental head trauma, etc.)

Purpose

This special policy will provide extended pay for catastrophic illness after a support employee has used all of his/her accrued sick leave, personal leave, wellness leave and vacation and is still unable to return to work.

This provision will provide the continuation of an employee's salary until such time said employee is able to return to work or such time a decision is reached concerning possible disability retirement or other disposition of the case.

If said employee is unable to return to work at the end of sixty (60) school days, the committee must review the request for additional days to be used from the Catastrophic Health Pool. In any case, the benefits of this policy shall not exceed a total of 120 school days for said employee.

Allocation of Days

Each support staff employee contributed one (1) day sick leave at the beginning of the 1987-88 school year, when this policy was originally adopted. Each new support staff employee will contribute one (1) day sick leave when employed and shall have the policy explained to them by the Superintendent.

If the number of days remaining in the pool is reduced to twenty-five (25) or less, the committee may recommend to the Superintendent the transferring of one (1) day from each support staff employee's individual sick leave to the Catastrophic Health Pool, with written notification to each employee.

Termination of an employee's services within the District also terminates membership in the Catastrophic Health Pool.

Eligibility

In order to qualify for the Catastrophic Health Pool, an employee must meet the following requirements: (1) be employed a minimum of thirty (30) hours per week; and (2) be eligible for the support staff retirement plan.

All District support employees, if they meet the requirements listed above, shall be eligible to receive benefits upon being deemed in need of benefits from said account.

Eligibility shall be considered by the Catastrophic Health Committee based upon:

1. Application of employee to the committee;


2. Certification of disability by a medical doctor and diagnosis as to possible length of illness or disability.

Eligibility will be established provided:

1. The applicant has used all of his/her individual sick leave;


2. The applicant has experienced loss of five (5) consecutive days pay due to illness or disability;


3. The committee determines that the applicant fully qualifies under the provisions and intent of this policy.

The employee, after approval by the committee, shall keep the committee informed as to the status of his/her health.

The Catastrophic Health Committee has the authority to review the status of an employee who is currently using days from the Catastrophic Health Pool.

The requirements stated herein will be required for each application regardless of whether or not the employee has previously drawn from the Catastrophic Health Pool during that year.

Catastrophic Health Committee

A committee for the Catastrophic Health Policy will be composed of the following and shall evaluate each application and make a decision of eligibility based upon the merits of the individual case:

1. The Superintendent of Schools;


2. Four (4) support staff employees shall be elected by their representative levels to be distributed as follows: one custodial/maintenance, one cafeteria, one secretarial, and one paraprofessional. Each elected member shall serve for two years. Terms shall be staggered so that two support staff members will be new each year. In case of vacancy, a support employee from that level shall be elected to serve the remainder of the term;


3. The Assistant Superintendent for Business will serve as a nonvoting ex-officio member.

Elections to select the required committee members will be held annually.

Administration

Upon establishment of eligibility, the Superintendent shall authorize a deduction to the Catastrophic Health Pool, providing full benefits to the employee until a determination is made as provided herein.

Appeal

Any support staff employee may appeal a decision of the committee to the Board. The appeal shall include:

1. A letter to the Board stating:
   
   
   1. A desire to appeal the decision of the committee;
   
   
   2. Reasons for appeal;
   
   
   3. Relevant, supportive information.
   
   


2. Upon receipt of appeal, the Board shall notify the employee of the date and time to consider the appeal. This appeal should be heard within the next two (2) regularly scheduled Board meetings.

The decision of the Board will be final.

Effective Date

This policy was first adopted October 19, 1987 and became effective with the 1987-88 school year.

Board Approved Date: October 01, 2004

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