By Glenn Rolfe

DAGSBORO — School district employees in Delaware who need leave for COVID-19-related issues are allowed up to 10 days off with pay, with their board of education’s approval.

The Indian River School District, one of the largest districts and school employers in the state, approved this initiative 9-0 Monday, electing to make it retroactive back to July 1 — the start of its 2021-22 academic year.

The action followed a presentation by Celeste Bunting, IRSD’s director of personnel, in response to a Sept. 7 memorandum from Cerron Cade, director of the state’s Office of Management and Budget.

“That allows for 10 additional days for employees, to be used for a variety of reasons related to COVID,” said Ms. Bunting. She noted that the “state pays for 100% of the substitutes on this for the COVID leave.”

There is a deadline, as the state’s funding for COVID-19 leave and associated substitute costs expires Dec. 31. No leave will carry into January 2022, even if a continuous period of absence started before Dec. 31.

“What would be the reason of only going to Dec. 31?” questioned IRSD board member Jim Fritz.

Ms. Bunting explained, “That is what was allowed in the state’s document, … the parameters we were given from the state.”

All pension-eligible part-time and full-time employees of IRSD can use the COVID-19 leave. The district has a little more than 1,600 total staff, said its spokesman David Maull.

Employees approved for leave will receive 100% of their regular earnings.

The effective dates are July 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2021, for 12-month employees and Aug. 30, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2021, for 10-month employees, Ms. Bunting said.

Use of leave covers an eligible employee who:

• Is obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.
• Has been exposed to the virus and is awaiting test results.
• Is experiencing symptoms and is seeking a diagnosis.
• Is caring for a family member or person residing in his or her home.
• Is caring for a child whose school or child care is unavailable due to COVID-19.
• Has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine.
• Is subject to federal, state or local quarantine or isolation.
• Is recovering from an injury, illness or condition resulting from COVID-19 vaccination.