Board approves district policy changes, additions

McCOOK, Neb. -- Policies the McCook Board of Education approved Monday night at the regular meeting included one that gives teachers and administrators paid time off for emergency medical situations.

The policy was requested by the local teachers union, McCook Education Association, during annual negotiations with the school board concerning salary and benefits.

The catastrophic policy approved Monday night includes a 50-day bank per year of paid leave that will be available to all teachers and administrators.

To be eligible for a withdrawal from the bank, certified staff must have exhausted all of their personal leave and accumulated sick leave days. Available days will be limited to ten days per application and individuals can apply up to two times a year.

The catastrophic illness, injury or physical condition covers certified employees or their immediate family, such as spouse and children. The condition must be certified by a doctor that it is a serious life threatening or emergency nature, when the employee's attendance at school is prohibited or the presence of the employee is needed for the care/recuperation of an immediate family member.

Two policies that were up for approval Monday night but pulled included one concerning attendance center assignments and another for kindergarten entrance.

The attendance center policy was removed as there are no longer any attendance centers in the district, such as District 41 and District 8 in the past.

The kindergarten entrance policy presented to the board Monday did not include updated information and so will be presented again at the board's July meeting.

Policies with no changes or revisions approved unanimously by the board were those concerning enrollment of expelled students and student transfers in from approved schools.