The North Little Rock School Board on Tuesday tabled a proposal to hire an outside firm to administer the Family Medical Leave Act for the district.
The district currently handles the program in house using existing employees, but human resources Executive Director Gregg Thompson told the board that contracting with an independent company could save the district nearly $260,000 per year.
Lisa Boone, the district's fringe benefits agent of record, presented a contract from Total Administrative Services Corp. for $15,000 annually that would allow the company to process employee leave requests, track absences, maintain medical files related to the leave requests and monitor employees during their absences.
Boone said using an independent leave administrator could reduce absenteeism by 25 percent, curb employee abuse of the federal leave, reduce liability related to maintaining confidential medical information and would result in better compliance with federal auditors.
Thompson told the board that since Aug. 18, district employees have used 760 sick days, 102 personal leave days and 22 days of extended leave without pay. Currently, he added, there are six qualifying new requests from employees for Family Medical Leave Act-related circumstances since the beginning of the school year.
Board member Dorothy Williams asked Boone to further explain how the proposal could save the district money.
Boone replied that the close monitoring of employees typically shortens the leave time and reduces absences -- which would in turn significantly lower the expense of hiring substitute teachers.
Board member Scott Miller requested, if the contract is approved, that a report showing the exact savings to the district be presented to the board at the end of the year.
Board member Darrell Montgomery took issue with the increased monitoring, especially given that the district has not been able to offer "significant raises."
"Now we're saying we're going to have our eyes on you," Montgomery said. He added that the employees have a right to utilize their sick leave and that "in my opinion, my leave is my leave."
"I'm not feeling this thing just yet," he said.
Williams suggested tabling the issue because she said she was uncomfortable approving the contract without first having a "workshop on this situation."
Montgomery said the individual building administrators should be included in the workshop and have a voice in the ultimate decision on whether to allow an outside vendor to administer the leave program.
"Solutions do not always reside here in the central office," Montgomery said.
Thompson told the board that he welcomes the involvement of building administrators.
The board voted unanimously to delay signing the contract with Total Administrative Services until a workshop involving the board as well as central and building administration could be held.
NW News on 09/26/2014