GCR2 directors approve paid bereavement leave benefit for teachers

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 8/4/21

Gasconade County R-2 district teachers will have a new employee benefit in the 2021-22 school year that neighboring school districts have already offer — bereavement leave. “If someone in …

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GCR2 directors approve paid bereavement leave benefit for teachers

Posted

Gasconade County R-2 district teachers will have a new employee benefit in the 2021-22 school year that neighboring school districts have already offer — bereavement leave.
“If someone in the employee’s immediate family dies, they will receive so many days off,” said Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy. “We are the only district that doesn’t offer it in our area.”
Hardy told the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education that the neighboring districts offer anywhere from two to five days of paid leave in the event of an immediate family member’s death, including spouse, siblings, parent or grandparent.
“I would like to see us offer three days,” Hardy said.
The board approved the measure July 26 with a 6-0 vote.
In other business, an update to the district’s wellness policy was approved with a 6-0 vote; the district tax rate hearing was scheduled for 7 p.m. on Aug. 16 — prior to the next board meeting; and ELA Curriculum was approved for grades nine through 12 with a 6-0 vote.
Out-of-state cross country and basketball games were approved for the fall with a 6-0 vote.
The student handbook was unanimously approved for all four individual buildings, with minor changes to align bus misconduct with disciplinary action for the elementary, middle and high schools.
The district is also hoping to renew its contract with the Owensville Police Department (OPD) to share an officer who will also serve as resource officer or SRO.
“They are holding out to make sure they have a suitable applicant,” Hardy said.
Last year the OPD was unable to hold up their end of the contract, where the district pays for 75 percent of the officer’s salary and the city pays for 25 percent. Hardy said staffing issues were listed as the reason.
The salary for the officer is set by OPD. Hardy told the board that the contract would need to be approved for the SRO officer to be reinstated for the year. The board approved the contract with a 6-0 vote.