Obion County Board of Education
August 12, 2013

Background Information:

During the latest legislative session, Public Chapter No. 439 was signed into law effective May 16, 2013. Tennessee State Board of Education Regulation 0520-01-02-.04(5) requires local boards to have policies and procedures regarding leave for teachers who are victims of physical assault while at work. The Board’s current policy is compliant with the above noted regulation. In accordance with state law, school systems must continue to pay the benefits for teachers while on leave due to physical assault. To this end, TSBA has developed a sample policy for the Board’s consideration. The second paragraph of TSBA’s policy is the new section and should be amended into the Board’s current policy. All other aspects of the Board’s current policy are appropriate, although the wording is slightly different in TSBA’s policy, which is recommended to be adopted in totality.

Staff Recommendation:

Due to the amendment reflecting current state law, I recommend approval of the above-noted amendment to Board Policy #5.307 – Physical Assault Leave, on first and final reading.