Reply to Can anyone tell me the reason why teachers can take leave for vacation during school year?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My first years teaching I used all of my sick leave because I was sick so often from being with all the kids. I've built up resistance and am sick much less frequently now.  Often I left DC home alone and came in to teach not because I didn't have the sick days, but bc I hate making up crap for subs to do; I'd just rather teach.  Sometimes I take a sick day to catch up on grading, bc there really isn't enough time during the school day.

After many years of teaching, I'm sort of kicking myself for NOT taking vacation opportunities that will never come my way again.

I'm am sure there are a few people who abuse the system, there are everywhere.  Most of us work pretty stinking hard. When we come home our day isn't over. When the school year ends for your kids, it doesn't end for us.

I chose my life and I love my job. Constructively managing kids all day, and then looking for some left over energy for your own family is always a work in progress.  I do worry that my own family is short-changed year after year.[/quote]

With almost 1,000 hours I often wonder why I am saving up so much leave. I keep thinking I should start using it, but like you said it's more of a hassle to be absent.[/quote]

Save it for the year you plan to retire. My mother had about 800 hours (or 100 school days).  She worked out a deal with her principal because you can only cash them in at 60% when you retire. The principal wanted to hire a teacher returning from maternity leave. My mom taught until the other teacher was available and then her doctor put her on disability for the rest of the year. It was a win for everyone. [/quote]

What do you mean "cash them in"? They don't pay us for them. [/quote]

In my mom's school system, teachers were allowed to cash in unused leave when they retired, but only at 60% of what it was worth. So if your pay per hour worked out to $30 before taxes, you could get $18 per hour.

In Washington State, a teacher can convert up to 180 days of leave to a payout when she/he retires or dies. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=392-136-020

Most school systems aren't that generous. I think mine has a 40% payout. And some don't allow any cashing in of leave at all. I know a few teachers who were "out sick" a lot as they approached retirement. In the spring semester of her last year, my former MIL only taught Tues-Thurs each week. She took Mon and Fri off to zero out her sick leave and personal leave. It was an open secret what she was doing.[/quote]

FCPS doesn't pay for unused leave at retirement. That's part of the reason I'm thinking I should start using it a bit. For example, my wife and I have our 20th anniversary coming up. We never took a honeymoon type trip. We're thinking of taking two days off around a holiday such as Columbus Day for a trip.[/quote]

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