faq
Find quick answers to common member questions
FIND YOUR ANSWERS FASTER
Browse common questions about Tuition Reimbursement and the Sick Day Transfer Program.
These are two of the most common areas members ask about.
Use the FAQ section below to open each question and read the full answer.
Click a question below to open the answer.
SICK DAY TRANSFER PROGRAM
1. What is the Sick Day Transfer Program (SDTP)?
The SDTP allows members of the SHTA bargaining unit to donate sick days to colleagues who are experiencing a serious illness or injury and have exhausted their own leave.
2. Who can participate in the SDTP?
Only members of the SHTA bargaining unit may participate, either as:
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Donors (giving sick days), or
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Recipients (receiving donated sick days)
3. What qualifies as a “serious illness or injury”?
A serious illness or injury is one that is:
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Catastrophic
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Life-threatening
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Debilitating
It may apply to the employee or a member of their immediate family.
Ultimately the decision to allow a member into the SDTP is up to HR.
4. When can someone apply to receive donated sick days?
An employee may apply when:
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Their sick leave balance is 15 days or fewer, AND
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They have filed and been approved for FMLA, AND
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They expect to exhaust all sick and personal leave
5. What is required to become eligible?
To qualify:
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Complete and submit the Sick Day Donation Eligibility Form
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Provide any requested medical documentation (if asked by HR)
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Cooperate with the verification process
All medical information is kept confidential.
6. How are donated sick days converted?
Donated days are transferred at a 2.5 : 1 ratio:
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2.5 donated days = 1 day received
For part-time employees:
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Days are converted into hours based on work schedules
7. Is there a limit to how many days someone can receive?
Yes. A recipient may receive:
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Up to 50 donated days within a two-school-year period
8. Is there a limit to how many days I can donate?
Yes:
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Maximum of 10 days per school year
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You must have:
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At least 20 days saved to donate more than 1 day
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At least 10 days to donate at all
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9. Can employees ask others directly for donations?
No. To avoid pressure:
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Requests are handled by:
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SHTA representatives
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Committee Chair
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Executive Board
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The recipient should not solicit donations directly
10. Who should I contact with questions?
Contact:
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Your SHTA Building Representative, or
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The Sick Day Committee Chair, or
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The Human Resources Office
TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
Why is tuition reimbursement only done once a year (after the December Board of Education meeting)?
As explained in Article XXV, the tuitioin reimbursement fund is a defined amount of money that is available to two groups--teachers seeking their first Master's Degree (Group 1) and teachers working beyond their first Master's (Group 2).
The tuition fund reimburses the teachers in Group 1 first at the full rate per credit hour (as negotiated). All remaining funds are available to teachers in Group 2.
If the amount of reimbursement being requested by teachers in Group 2 exceeds the remaining funds, then the amount per credit hour will be adjusted. All of the tuition requests need to be processed at the same time to determine the availability of funds.
