Hey teachers

peitri · November 2013

Are any of you electing to take the rest of the 2013-2014 school year off?I just had a meeting with my principal and HR and I'm now considering not returning until fall 2014 so I can BF and take care of LO as long as possible. HR is going to get back to me with how much my paychecks would be and when I'd start getting paid again. Once I know that I'll be able to discuss with DH and we can make a decision that's best for us.

In the meantime, I'm wondering if any of you have 1) made the decision to come back in fall 2014, and 2) know and are willing to explain how your pay will work in the summer.

I know each state is probably different. I'm in CA and plan to use my FMLA and CIGNA until my coverage ends May 13. After that, I have about 3 weeks of school until summer vacation and will take a leave of absence approved by my principal. Thanks to anyone with any info!

tyedyeme12 · November 2013

I don't qualify for FMLA yet, (haven't worked a year). I will only take about 4 weeks off. I will come back in 2014, and I'm not positive about my summer pay. Right now, I'm only a teaching assistant, however, if I was a full time teacher, my district pays on a 12 month pay scale (August to August). That way, even if you aren't teaching summer school, you will still be paid.

lauralye267 · November 2013

I'm taking 12 weeks off!

jenohouston · November 2013

FMLA only keeps your job for 12 weeks, so I will only be taking a max of 12 weeks. After that I would be concerned about them needing to fill my position with someone else permanently. They do not have to guarantee you a job after the 12 weeks of FMLA, from what I understand. Did they guarantee you a job for the following school year? Do they have to pay you for the rest of the year if you decide to not return?

jenohouston · November 2013

Ours doesn't, but that's really awesome that your contract does! I hope it works out so you can take that time. I'll be going back in March, but it will only be a few months till summer!

peitri · November 2013

@jenohouston - I would stop receiving pay once my sick hours and PTO are drained. With what I have now, I would only receive full pay for 9, maybe 10 weeks. After that, I wouldn't get paid. I will actually OWE money when I return because my district would still pay for my health insurance even though I wouldn't be earning an income.

My job is actually not guaranteed at all. I work for a public charter that doesn't have tenure. I could be fired tomorrow if they think I suck enough. That's why, after May 13th, I would have to return unless my principal grants me a leave of absence through the last day of school. If not, then I would have to work those three weeks, but then I have to find someone to watch LO.

jenohouston · November 2013

Eeeek, that's a tough situation!

peitri · November 2013

Yeah. And I can only take all this time off if we can afford it. We've been trying to put as much as possible into savings, but who knows - I may end up going back earlier. I'd rather stay with LO as long as possible though. I'd be wonderful to be with her until I return in August.

imrachellea · November 2013

Yep DH is a teacher too so we can't swing my not going back. I'll take my 12 weeks with a few extra weeks due to break, somewhere around 14-16 weeks total. I'll be going back probably start of April. We're looking to move back north to OH next summer but whether there or still in FL, I'm looking for online teaching opportunities for 2014. Obviously I have said nothing of those plans to my admin, and keep saying "oh for when I'm here next year..." Gotta protect the job but we want NOTHING more than to raise our little girl around family.

amberpro · November 2013

I would love to. Can't afford it with our current lifestyle. Would be nice, though.

peitri · November 2013

imrachellea said:

Yep DH is a teacher too so we can't swing my not going back. I'll take my 12 weeks with a few extra weeks due to break, somewhere around 14-16 weeks total. I'll be going back probably start of April. We're looking to move back north to OH next summer but whether there or still in FL, I'm looking for online teaching opportunities for 2014. Obviously I have said nothing of those plans to my admin, and keep saying "oh for when I'm here next year..." Gotta protect the job but we want NOTHING more than to raise our little girl around family.

NEVER tell an employer you may be leaving your job!

Is your fam in OH? If so, I hope you get to move!

excitedjen1 · November 2013

That would be so nice if you are able to be off until the start of the new school year in the fall! I'll be off until December 2014 (paid a percentage of my salary), I'm also in Canada so I know that our leaves work a bit differently. Good luck figuring it all out :-)

VeilSdeGTO · November 2013

I will be taking 12 weeks off and returning toward the end of Feb.

As much as I would love to take the rest of the school year off, it would be too much of a strain financially to not get a paycheck til Sept, pay OOP for medical, still have DD#1 in daycare, and then pay for two kids in daycare come Sept.

ChiAmy · November 2013

I will be taking 15 weeks off. I could take the year off but when I go back there is only 7 weeks left...not worth going without the pay..

annemariek21 · November 2013

I'll probably go back to work 8 weeks after the birth. My doctor is fine with having me out on disability that long, even if it's a normal delivery. I have plenty of sick days, so that's not the issue, but once my doctor says I'm no longer "out on disability" I can't use my extra sick days to stay out. Under FMLA I could stay out longer, but then I'd be without pay for that time. If I didn't have sick days accrued, but was out on disability still I'd only get differential pay (my normal pay minus what they pay a sub --- which would be almost nothing). But once I'm no longer considered disabled I'd be without pay even if my district granted a leave of absence. Not worth it for us! It'll be hard to go back so soon, but my husband will have the baby with him while I'm at work which will make it easier than if I had to leave him with someone else.

playball13 · November 2013

I'm going back to work mid March. We went back and forth but I decided since there will only be a couple months of the year left that I would go back so I can get a couple more paychecks in the bank before summer.

mmmchu2 · November 2013

I think being a teacher and giving birth in December is pretty great considering we get the 2 weeks off for Xmas break on top of time off. I'm in a private school in Oh. How it works is I have to use my sick time that I've accrued. I've accrued 8 weeks and with Xmas break that means ill be off for 10 weeks. I could opt to take 2 more weeks through fmla but those would be unpaid which we can't afford. It will be tough but only having to go back march- may with a week of spring break in there seems pretty sweet to me bc then we get summer off! Yippee! I'm trying to look at the bright side ya know?

lifesaverz · November 2013

I'm not a teacher but I do work at various schools (I'm a therapist employed through the county, not the school district), & I'll be taking off 2 weeks prior to my due date, plus 12 weeks from the delivery, whenever that happens to fall. If she comes one week late, which I kinda expect, I'll be back the first week in March, so I'll have to work those last 3 months of the school year. To be honest I'm really dreading having to do that & work full time even for those few months. After I finish out the school year I'll be getting a part-time position, which I'll work from then on.

airsica · November 2013

I've been off for a while because I can't be on my feet for long so my FMLA has already kicked in (I'm high risk for PTL).
I am going back after 8 weeks, I can't afford more than that because I won't get any pay for that and I would have to pay for insurance that the district normally pays, so way too difficult.

Chichigo · November 2013

I am taking the rest of the year off, but my pay schedule won't be helpful for you. We aren't offered year-round pay, and I don't actually get paid maternity leave-just a pay out of banked sick days. Luckily, my job will be held for next year and I don't need to file any paperwork. I work for a Catholic school system and the dioceses encourages mothers to spend six months home after birth or adoption to bond with/care for their children. This is the only time the benefits of working for the church system have outweighed the public schools!

imrachellea · November 2013

@peitri DH's family lives in OH, mine is in PA. My family is much smaller than DH's (as in it is just my parents and older brother, younger brother is in Chicago), so given that DH's massive family all lives within a 2 hour radius of each other...we're DESEPRATELY trying to move. We didn't want to put off starting a family anymore, but we aren't thrilled we have no family remotely close to us here.

shoeflypie · November 2013

I'm in PA and did not sign up for Aflac in time for this baby. EDD is Dec 26 so I will use FMLA from Jan 6-April 7. My superintendent granted me a few extra unpaid days (depending on snow days) so I have a definite return date.

From Jan 10-Aug 25, I will lose $600/month. The great part is that I still collect a paycheck since we're salaried. If I did not return, I would not have a paycheck after Feb 25. Also, my mom is babysitting from April-June (and is really really excited to be babysitter) so we've lucked out tremendously. Hope this helps!

bcvolleymom · November 2013

I will be taking the remainder of the school year off. I have about 4 weeks of sick days that I will get paid for and my short term disability. In our district, our contracts allow 1 calendar year unpaid after the birth of a child and you are guaranteed to keep your position. We have been stashing away all extra that we can to help off set the lack of income. I also carry our insurance, so from March-September I will be paying them to cover the premium that usually is taken from my check. It will be tight, but this is our third and final baby and my oldest will be starting kindergarten in the fall so it will be a good time to be home with all of the kids.

noslen0519 · November 2013

ChiAmy said:

I will be taking 15 weeks off. I could take the year off but when I go back there is only 7 weeks left...not worth going without the pay..

This exactly. I will be going back after April break which means I only have 9 weeks or so of school left. COBRA is $2000 a month for a family under my plan, and it just doesn't make sense to pay that from when my FMLA runs out at the beginning of May until September. MIL is going to help watch the baby for those last few weeks of the school year, and then I will be home again. We are arranging a more permanent situation for childcare for the Fall...

lemlemlem · November 2013

I am taking 6 weeks plus the 2 at Christmas. I will be getting paid from my sick leave bank and I don't want to use it all in case something comes up later. Since my due date is Dec. 1 I will be going back the end of Jan. My husband is going to start working 4 ten hour days, so he will be home on Fridays once I go back to work.

BeckyNeumann · November 2013

Both myself and my husband are teachers. I am taking 12 weeks off. My salary is September to June. Once I am back I just have to save, save, save for the summer. I can use sick days for the first 6-8 weeks (Dr. note needed for 8.) After, I go unpaid. I know in my district that you can go unpaid for 2 years but they don't have to so hold your specific spot. (A girl was teaching kindergarten at my school. This is her 2nd year off. Next year she will have a job, but most like it not in my building.) I'd love to take off the year but we could not afford. Also.... in April are the New York State assessments. I teach 5th grade. I want to be back to prepare my kids because even if a sub was there, the scores would count for my APPR score.

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