by Carl BR Johnson
May 24, 2013
Photo by Carl BR Johnson — Excessive sick days are costing the district close to $1 million just from teachers alone.
“Monday-itis” is one factor leading to close to $1 million in teacher sick day costs, according to Gerry Slykhuis, secretary treasurer for School District 59.
“We have seen the trends and we see the people (teachers) who have their single day or two sick days every month consistently,” said Slykhuis, at the monthly meeting of the school board held in Tumbler Ridge.
“We think the reason for those sick days taken are something beyond an actual illness – it could be that ‘Monday-itis’ or whatever.”
The dramatic rise in sick days should not be attributed to an aging population, he said. However, he was did not have an explanation for the sudden increase.
“It’s costing us close to $1 million,” he said. The numbers elicited gasps from the board, who had many questions about the high cost to taxpayers.
Slykhuis noted that one particular teacher logged in sick time in 41 out of 48 months of his analysis.
He said that his office is, “still trying to completely analyze the usage of sick time.”
One board member asked for clarification regarding the numbers and Slykhuis said his analysis does not include Worker’s Compensation Board, or short-term and long-term disability claims.
However, Slykhuis wasn’t finished with his bad news reports to the board and said that several other groups within the district, including support and janitorial staff, were also guilty of taking excessive sick days.
“It is a concern,” he added, “And sick time is still getting worse, despite our best efforts.”
However, Lorraine Mackay, president of the Peace River South Teacher’s Association, was not convinced that ‘Monday-itis’ was the cause of the increase in sick days.
“That issue has never been raised by the school district to the (teachers) union,” she said, “as Mr. Slykhuis said, it’s the cost of doing business.”
Mackay added that the other aspect that people need to consider is that teachers are in direct contact with students and with sickness comes the inherent danger of spreading germs to other students and staff.
“These teachers are also in direct contact with students, which are many, who are contracting illnesses themselves,” she said.
“By taking a sick day, teachers are only thinking of the kids and don’t want to spread it around.”
She said that overall, stats and data collected by other officials can be interpreted differently and her association is only looking for fairness when such information becomes available to the public.
“My big concern is that statistics can be taken and interpreted many different ways,” she said.
“Do we really want sick teachers going to school and spreading their disease to the children?”
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