EBR teachers now need permission for extended leave

As teachers in East Baton Rouge Parish prepare to go back to school Wednesday, many are just finding out they will not be able to automatically take sabbaticals or extended sick leave, at least not for the duration of the 2012-13 school year. Instead, they’ll have to get approval first. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted earlier this year to restrict those benefits—estimated to cost the system about $2 million—as part of an overall $28.4 million budget reduction. The restriction does not apply to regular, paid sick leave or maternity leave; only to sabbaticals and extended sick leave, which is defined as 90 days in a six-year period. Still, some educators were caught off guard, as they were not made aware of the changes until this week. School board members say they’re not trying to punish educators but are rather merely finding effective ways of saving money. “There are people who would take a sabbatical and then retire,” says school board member Craig Freeman. “We can’t afford that anymore.” Some teachers were also confused by proposed changes to their health insurance benefits, which could go into effect in January. But the board has not resolved that issue, and no changes to the benefits package have been made at this time. The school board will meet next week to consider changes to the existing benefits plan. —Stephanie Riegel