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The Jessamine County Board of Education approved a resolution relating to Quarantine Leave for the 2021-2022 school year. This resolution is pursuant to 702 KAR1:191E, which states that “each district shall provide paid quarantine leave to all eligible employees, if the employee 1) has been placed in quarantine by a medical professional, health department, school district, etc.; and 2) has been vaccinated against COVID-19 (or if they present a statement from a treating medical professional that a disability prevents the employee from taking the COVID-19 vaccine, or is prevented from taking the COVID-19 vaccination based on sincerely held religious belief).”

However, quarantine leave cannot be used if the employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Those who test positive must use their sick days instead of quarantine leave.

The regulation does give discretion to school districts on three issues that may require local action. The regulation says that:

“A school district, at its discretion, may determine quarantine leave is unnecessary when an employee can fulfill his or her job duties remotely during the quarantine period”; and

“In order to shorten the quarantine period, a school district may require an employee on quarantine leave to undergo a COVID-19 test at the district’s expense and provide the results to the district. Such test shall occur no sooner than the earliest date recommended by [CDC and state DPH] quarantine guidelines. A district may require an employee testing negative for COVID-19 to return to work in accordance with [CDC and DPH] quarantine guidelines; and

“A school district may require the employee to provide written documentation from the entity placing the employee in quarantine.”

While the resolution was approved, the issue will be discussed further, with changes and adjustments to the resolution remaining a possibility.