Leave Programs

Eligibility 

• All employees needing maternity leave are eligible for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, regardless of length of employment or full-time/part-time status.

• Permanent, benefitted employees with an FTE of 0.50 (20 hours per week) or greater are eligible for 6 to 8 weeks of paid leave.

Payment

• If you are eligible for pay, you will be paid first through accumulated temporary leave. Once your temporary leave bank is exhausted, you will be paid through Short-term Disability at 70% of your normal rate. Pay applies to only the first 6 to 8 calendar weeks.
• Please note: Not all staff are eligible for pay benefits. If you have questions regarding your eligibility, please contact Employee Health. 

Insurance

Don't forget! If you are a benefitted employee on the District's Health Plan and plan to add your new addition to your plan, it is your responsibility to add your new addition to your plan. It is your responsibility to do so within 31 days of the birth. Failure to enroll means your child will not be covered under the plan. This will require you to log onto bswift at usd259.bswift.com on Google Chrome or through Employee Self-Service (People Soft) and begin and complete a life event. You will add your child to any plans you wish and upload a copy of the birth certificate or confirmation or legal adoption paperwork AND a social security card . Please contact us at 316-973-4581 if you have difficulty with this process prior to the 31 days so we can assist you. Reminders will also go out to you during the claims process. 

When and how do I apply?

• Please contact Employee Health during your third trimester to set up a claim. 
• For certified staff, contact Jeana Melton to initiate a claim at jmelton@usd259.net or 316-973-4632.
• For classified staff, contact Tracy Anderson to initiate a claim at tanderson6@usd259.net or 316-973-4458.

What You Need to Know about Medical Leave & Short-Term Disability

Coverage

Medical leave and Short-term disability apply to continuous time off work due to your own serious health condition. This does not apply to intermittent absences or absences to care for a family member. Please note, documentation is required.

Eligibility

• To be eligible, you must be a permanent, benefitted employee with an FTE of 0.50 or greater (20 hours per week or more).
• A permanent, benefitted employee is eligible for Short-term disability the first day of the month following their month of hire.

Payment

Medical leave is paid only after documentation is received and your leave is approved by Employee Health. Approved medical leave is paid first through your available temporary leave. Once your temporary leave has been exhausted, ongoing payments are provided through Short-term Disability at 70% of your normal rate. A 5-day unpaid waiting period may apply. 

FMLA

If you are eligible for FMLA, FMLA will run concurrently with medical leave and Short-Term disability. No separate application is necessary.

How and when to apply

• Be sure to notify Employee Health as soon as the need for leave is known.
• To be approved, documentation must be provided for any absences exceeding 5 days.
• There is paperwork you and your doctor will need to complete and return by the deadline provided by Employee Health. 
• For certified staff, contact Jeana Melton to initiate a claim at jmelton@usd259.net or 316-973-4632.
• For classified staff, contact Tracy Anderson to initiate a claim at tanderson6@usd259.net or 316-973-4458.
• Employee Health will notify you of your approval (or denial).

FMLA: What You Need to Know about the Family Medical Leave Act 

FMLA can be used for the following

• Welcoming a new child into your home through birth, adoption or foster care.
• To care for your own serious health condition.
• To provide care for a spouse, parent, or child (defined as under 18 years of age OR 18 years of age or older and incapable of self-care due to a mental or physical disability) with a serious health condition. 

To be eligible, you must have

• Worked 1250 hours in the past 12 months prior to your leave AND
• Worked for the school district for 1 year

A serious health condition is

• A condition that has resulted in hospitalization OR
• A condition that requires continuing doctor's appointments OR
• A condition that is chronic or recurring

How you are paid

FMLA is UNPAID. If you have personal illness or family illness (temporary leave) in your leave bank, you will be paid until your APPLICABLE temporary leave is exhausted.

How to apply

There is paperwork you and your doctor (or family member's doctor if the leave if for care of a family member) will need to complete. 

For certified staff, contact Jeana Melton to initiate a claim at jmelton@usd259.net or 316-973-4632.

For classified staff, contact Tracy Anderson to initiate a claim at tanderson6@usd259.net or 316-973-4458.

What is my parental leave benefit as a partner or spouse?

Effective with July 1, 2025, negotiated agreement changes: Legal parents or guardians are now eligible for up to six (6) weeks of paid parental leave (previously was 5 days) per contract year for the purpose of the birth of their child and participating in bonding time following birth.  This leave is taken from available temporary leave time (personal illness) and must be approved through Employee Benefits. If temporary leave is not available, this does not prohibit or interfere with any eligibility for unpaid FMLA (Family Medical Leave) time. Employees may be eligible under FMLA to take up to 12 total work weeks off, with a maximum of 6 weeks being paid.

I am adopting a child. What is my adoptive leave benefit?

Effective with July 1, 2025, negotiated agreement changes: Adoptive parents are eligible for up to six (6) weeks of paid leave (previously was 15 days) for bonding following the placement of a child. If temporary leave is not available, this does not prohibit or interfere with any eligibility for unpaid FMLA (Family Medical Leave) time. Employees may be eligible under FMLA to take up to 12 total work weeks off, with a maximum of 6 weeks being paid. 

When and how do I apply?

• For parental leave: Please contact Employee Health during the third trimester to set up a claim.
• For adoptive leave: Please contact Employee Health as soon as you are aware of the upcoming need for leave.
• For certified staff: Contact Jeana Melton to initiate a claim at jmelton@usd259.net or 316-973-4632.
• For classified staff: Contact Tracy Anderson to initiate a claim at tanderson6@usd259.net or 316-973-4458.

Insurance: 

Don't forget! If you are a benefitted employee on the District's Health Plan and plan to add your new addition to your plan, it is your responsibility to add your new addition to your plan. It is your responsibility to do so within 31 days of the birth. Failure to enroll means your child will not be covered under the plan. This will require you to log onto bswift at usd259.bswift.com on Google Chrome or through Employee Self-Service (People Soft) and begin and complete a life event. You will add your child to any plans you wish and upload a copy of the birth certificate or birth confirmation or legal adoption paperwork AND a social security card. Please contact us at 316-973-4581 if you have difficulty with this process prior to the 31 days so we can assist you. Reminders will also go out to you during the claims process.