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Supporters of Gwinnett County Teacher Request Change in Sick Leave Policy

August 16th, 2012

Thursday evening family and supporters of a South Gwinnett High School teacher will ask the Gwinnett board of Education to change the district’s sick leave policy, so he can stay by the side of his sick wife. Currently, the policy does not allow teachers to donate sick time to fellow educators.

The wife of high school math teacher, Mark Rinehart, was recently stricken with a rare bacterial infection. As a result, Rinehart says 32-year-old Hannah had to have both of her hands and feet amputated.

“It’s not in any way been easy. Sometimes I think I’m going to wake up from it. The comfort I have had in this has been from my faith.”

Hannah is currently in critical but stable condition. It’s not clear when she’ll come home from the hospital. Rinehart has more than 20 remaining sick days. And to aid Rinehart when Hannah comes home, several of Rinehart’s fellow teachers offered to donate their sick time. It’s time Rinehart says he desperately needs.

“To have time available to take care of the enormous responsibilities in preparing my house for Hannah, and to take care of her when she is there, especially in the first few months.”

But Rinehart says district officials initially told him state law prohibits the school system from allowing employees to donate their sick time. However, several lawmakers like state representative Brett Harrell say that’s not the case.

“It’s my understanding from legislative counsel that it is not state law that prohibits the local school systems from establishing leave policies, so that would be up to the Gwinnett County Board of Education and the Gwinnett County School System.”

WABE contacted district officials but did not hear back by deadline. In a statement released Monday, the school system says it’s reviewing state and local laws regarding the policy. But the district says this is not a simple change. The district says on average it normally has more than 500 people on leave and currently more than 130 employees are not receiving pay because they’ve used all their sick time. The statement went on to say decisions must be made that are fair and equitable for all district employees.