LI teacher maternity leave question

Hey Teacher Ladies,

Have any of you out there had or are about to have a baby over summer vacation?
I am a teacher in a public LI school district. I am due in early august. My district is telling me that my paid time (sick days...6 weeks worth) will start being deducted from the day of my baby's birth. Which means once the school year starts I will be left with almost no sick days or paid time.
Any additional time I may take off after that will be unpaid and will be deducted from my senority in the district.
This seems so unfair to me! Had anyone else ever been deducted sick days over summer vacation?

Thanks in advance!

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

They can't deduct sick days, but they can start the clock for 6 weeks leave on the day of the birth. They can only deduct sick days for school days you're not present for.

Since you're due in August, I'd look into taking the 6 weeks that you're normally given and then extend it to 12 weeks through the FMLA. You're entitled to 12 weeks! You may or may not be able to use your sick days during that time, but it would extend your time home w/o worrying about eating too many days since you didn't use them all of August. HTH!

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

KennysMommy is right as far as I know too...they can't deduct sick days since you aren't taking any right now.

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

My district does not deduct sick days from a vacation. However my July baby left me with NO days paid maternity leave

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

Posted by Gatsbygirl

My district does not deduct sick days from a vacation. However my July baby left me with NO days paid maternity leave

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

Call your union rep and asks what the contract says.. Every district has different rules.

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

My district is like Kennysmom described

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

I believe each district is different. In my district you can take up to 60 days (does not include vacations or summer) those 60 days will be paid if you have 60 sick days accumulated to take. Many of my friends in my district have given birth over the summer and their maternity leave starts the 1st day of school. FMLA is different than maternity leave

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

I'm due at the end of August...my maternity leave starts 9/6 and I get 6 weeks (from sick time), plus I can take another 6 weeks unpaid - FMLA and then unpaid leave by semester.


depending on the birth day, since I'm most likely having a c/s, I might be able to squeeze one more paid week out of it.

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

Every district is different. However, I dno't believe they can deduct your sick time starting in August. They can once school starts and that's within the 6 weeks of giving birth. For example, I had DS 3/31. I was unable to use any sick days over April vacation so was charged for 25 sick days instead of 30. As far as I know, FMLA does not count over the summer. Your 12 weeks should go into effect in Sept. I was also told by my union that FMLA does not count against your seniority. That could also be different district to district. It stinks that you even have to worry about this! Our country has THE WORST maternity leave.

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

I agree. They can't deduct from a vacation. My son was born in August and my maternity leave didn't start until the first day of school. I then took another 6 weeks through FMLA, for a total of 12 and didn't return until December.

I hope it all works out!

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

Hi,
I had a baby on the very last day of school. My district allows you to take paid maternity leave to recover from having a baby using your sick time (6 weeks vaginal, 8 weeks c-section). Because I had the entire summer with DS though, they considered me "recovered" by the time September came. Therefore, I didn't deduct any sick days due to the fact that the 2 months I was off were the summer. However, I couldn't start any paid leave from the first day of school due to the fact that it was more than 8 weeks since the birth of DS. While it would have been nice, it wouldn't really be fair to teachers who have their babies during the year. It would be like a free 2 months off! I ended up taking FMLA and didn't come back until after the Thanksgiving break giving me 5 months at home. I would check with your union. I don't know how they could deduct sick days from you when you aren't working or getting paid. I hope it works out for you!

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

I agree with the others who said to contact a union rep or officer that knows the rules of leaves in your district. Each district is very different. That is the best way to get the most accurate information. Good luck!

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

DS was born in the beginning of August.

The "6 week paid clock" started that day. So technically, I wasnt paid for those first 4 weeks in Aug, since we arent paid in the summer, and no sick time was deducted bc we werent in school. I was paid for about a week and a half once school opened and about 10 days were taken from my bank.

However, the "FMLA clock" didnt start until school opened bc that clock "freezes" anytime school is closed for the week. So that started once school opened and continued until about Thanksgiving.

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

I am also in a LI district and it's similar to the above posters.

In the middle of July or start of August, we can't use sick days in September because "the clock" for the 6 weeks starts when you have your baby. We can take an unpaid leave obviously.

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

in my district, you are only paid if you deliver during the school year and use your sick days to get paid in full to cover you for part or all of the 12 weeks (provided it falls during the school year).

I've had two summer babies and was never paid over the summer and I lost no sick days. I was also allowed to take my 12 weeks starting in September and returning after Thanksgiving. However, i was not allowed to use sick days to get paid during that time, because I was no longer recovering. it was an unpaid leave.

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

Thank you ladies....all this info is very helpful I have been in contact with my union but I am waiting to hear back. I am very hopeful that they cannot take my sick days away from me during the summer time.
I guess I will have to wait and see.

Thanks!

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question

No way over the summer but I think your 6 weeks are included in your summer vacation so you would only be entitled to abour 2 weeks of paid leave in september. Anything else would be unpaid and seniority deducted. But health insurance would have to be offered for an additional 6 weeks after that due to fmla.enjoy that baby and congrats

Re: LI teacher maternity leave question