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

[Andrea Disch]

We were informed by counsel that the issue was being addressed as a
discrimination concern.
Their position is that postpartum recovery is comparable to recovery from
any other medical procedure.
Therefore, the Sick Leave Bank should be allowed to be used for the
postpartum recovery period, however not the bonding period.



Andrea Disch

Business Manager


Maine School Administrative District No. 11
150 Highland Avenue • Gardiner, Maine 04330



207-582-5346

*aDisch at msad11.org <aDisch at msad11.org>*

*www.msad11.org <http://www.msad11.org>*





On Wed, Nov 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM Dawn Blanchard <dblanchard at brunswicksd.org>
wrote:

> Our language stipulates "for the benefit of continuing contract teachers
> who suffer illness or disability and who have exhausted their accumulated
> regular sick leave but are not yet eligible for disability insurance (we
> provide LTD to teachers)."
> I have had a teacher utilize the sick bank during the postpartum recovery
> phase- but not bonding.  I did request medical documentation to prove it
> was needed for the recovery and not bonding time.
>
> We have since implemented a parental leave bank that is funded through
> teacher donation of days.
>
> ~Dawn
>
> Dawn Blanchard
> Director of Personnel and Finance
> 207-319-1950
> Sent from mobile device
>
>
> 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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