The Clarke County School District Board of Education approved revisions to policy GBRH, governing professional personnel leave and absences, after board members pressed staff for clarifications about payout thresholds and the feasibility of a sick‑leave bank.

Board member Dr. Lakeisha Gantt raised several detailed questions about the policy language, including how payout thresholds would operate for employees covered by the Public School and County Retirement System (PSCRS) and the Teachers Retirement System (TRS), and whether payouts would apply on resignation or retirement. She also pressed staff about the proposal for an education‑leave bank and a separate sick‑leave bank.

The district’s staff member referred questions about payout thresholds to Mr. Swartz (HR staff). Swartz explained that the TRS payout threshold remains 60 days; the district proposed lowering the PSCRS threshold to 20 days (down from the higher level previously used) so those employees would need to accumulate fewer days to qualify for a payout. He confirmed that payouts are triggered on resignation or retirement under the policy language being considered. Swartz also said creating and managing a separate sick‑leave bank would require a new policy, a committee of trustees and close oversight by the district’s leave specialist in HR.

Swartz told the board HR capacity is strained: the district has seen an increase of roughly 500 absences year‑over‑year across categories (sick, personal, FMLA, paid parental leave) and a roughly 100% jump in paid parental‑leave cases since a recent change in state law; FMLA cases are up about 50%. Because the leave specialist already manages daily absences, FMLA and paid parental leave, staff warned a sick‑leave bank would add significant administrative workload unless additional staffing or process changes are funded.

Several board members, including Mr. Mark Evans and Miss Linda Davis, said they supported approving the policy now so the district has a working leave policy, but asked that trustees revisit the sick‑leave bank and education‑leave bank during the upcoming budget cycle to examine staffing, implementation options and possible funding. Dr. Gantt said she planned to support the revision but urged continued work on climate and culture measures that could affect recruitment and retention beyond salary adjustments.

A motion to approve the revisions to policy GBRH was made by Mr. Mark Evans and seconded by Miss Nicole Hall. The motion carried with seven votes in favor, zero opposed and one abstention (Mary P. Bagby).

Board members asked staff to bring additional information on administrative capacity, cost estimates and potential staffing options for a sick‑leave bank back to the board as part of budget discussions.

The board said it intends to revisit policy development process items in coming months as it monitors implementation and gathers follow‑up information.