School committee approves emergency-leave addendum to paraprofessional secretaries contract

The Smithfield School Committee voted Jan. 2 to approve a memorandum of agreement adding emergency-leave language to the paraprofessional secretaries contract with SATAC.

The addendum clarifies that the three-year contract will include provisions for extenuating circumstances and emergency leave so staff can leave in urgent situations and, when appropriate, complete required paperwork after the emergency for payroll record-keeping.

The superintendent explained the change is intended to provide a process for emergencies — for example, when a staffer must leave immediately for a medical emergency — while preserving payroll documentation. Committee members asked whether the change would require staff to stop at the office before leaving during an extreme emergency; administrators said forms could be completed after the fact and that on-site administrators would notify central office as needed.

A motion to approve the memorandum of agreement with SATAC was made and seconded and carried by voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes.

The agreement will be implemented during the remaining life of the current three-year contract and is intended to standardize payroll and attendance recordkeeping for emergency absences.