[SchoolFinance] Inquiry: Use of Sick Leave Bank for Postpartum Recovery

[Field, Stacie]

Our language also states "serious or extended non-work-related illness or
injury."
Specific to pregnancy or childbirth it states "only if medically
necessary."
Excludes elective surgery and family members' illness or injury.

Stacie Field
Business Manager
RSU 16 - Poland, Mechanic Falls, Minot
207.998.2727 ext 102


On Wed, Nov 12, 2025 at 11:11 AM Lucie Tabor <ltabor at vuesc.org> wrote:

> Our Sick Leave bank stipulates it's for a teacher experiencing a prolonged
> or catastrophic illness or event (of the employee), so maternity leave does
> not fit into that unless there are complications and it becomes a prolonged
> or catastrophic illness
>
> Lucie
>
> On Wed, Nov 12, 2025 at 10:46 AM Andrea Disch <adisch at msad11.org> wrote:
>
>> Dear Colleagues,
>>
>> I’m reaching out to ask whether any of your districts currently restrict
>> staff members recovering from childbirth—who lack sufficient personal sick
>> leave—from drawing time from an associated sick leave bank.
>>
>> Our current Collective Bargaining Agreement specifies that this is not
>> permitted. However, we were previously advised by counsel that prohibiting
>> employees from accessing the sick leave bank for postpartum recovery could
>> constitute discrimination, prompting a change in past practice.
>>
>> I’d appreciate learning whether others are facing similar language in
>> their agreements, and if so, how your districts are addressing it in
>> practice.
>>
>> Thank you in advance for any insights you can share.
>>
>> Best,
>> Andrea
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> SchoolFinance at maillist.informe.org
>> http://maillist.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/schoolfinance
>
>
>
> --
> Lucie Tabor
> *Director of Finance*
> *Valley Unified Educational Service Center (VUESC)*
> *Serving the School Districts of MSAD 27, MSAD 33 and Madawaska School
> Dept.*
> *Upper St. John Valley*
> _______________________________________________
> SchoolFinance mailing list
> SchoolFinance at maillist.informe.org
> http://maillist.informe.org/mailman/listinfo/schoolfinance
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