To promote educational excellence, the Alabama Education Association serves as an advocate for its members and leads the advancement of equitable and quality public education in Alabama.
Educators Should Not Be Charged Leave for Mandated Quarantines
Alabama School Journal | November 2020
The Alabama State Department of Education sent a letter dated November 13 to all school systems regarding the increasing COVID-19 cases and what to consider when making decisions about school operations and educator leave moving forward.
Several schools have sent employees, classroom teachers, school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors, and other important personnel home to quarantine. The letter encourages schools and systems to work with employees who have been forced to quarantine.
“If adult employees test positive or are otherwise quarantined, please make every effort to allow them to continue working remotely or to utilize any appropriate COVID-19 leave in order to avoid docking their personal/sick leave,” the State Department letter reads. “Many adults have been quarantined for weeks even though they have not tested positive and have worked hard to follow CDC and ADPH guidelines. I would hate to see these hardworking employees lose their accumulated leave due to mandated quarantines out of their control.”
As schools become understaffed and can’t find substitutes for quarantined employees, schools and school systems left with no other options are moving to remote learning. The letter acknowledged the Thanksgiving holiday may exacerbate the situation over the next few weeks. Superintendents are asked to contact the State Department of Education if they determine schools are no longer able to safely operate.
The letter closes with “our primary concern is the personal safety and health of students, staff, faculty, and communities, closely followed by our students’ academic growth and personal development.”