MOORPARK : Teachers Seek More Personal Leave Days

Moorpark’s teachers union has filed suit against the Moorpark Unified School District in an effort to increase the number of days allowed for personal leave.

The suit, filed Wednesday by the Moorpark Educators Assn., contends that the district is breaking state law by allowing teachers only three days of personal leave. Teachers can use personal leave days at their discretion, without having to give any reason for their absence.

State law allows teachers to take up to seven days of personal leave, said Donald Bayer, a spokesman for the California Teachers Assn., which filed the suit jointly with the Moorpark union.

The suit stems from an incident last year involving Robert Noel, a Moorpark High School mathematics and social studies teacher.

Noel asked for four days of personal leave to accompany his wife to another state to tend to a sick relative, union spokesman Floyd Berger said. The Noels were the only living relatives of the woman, who died shortly after the visit, Berger said.

The district refused Noel’s request that he be allowed to take the fourth day as an unpaid day. The district does not allow teachers any unpaid leave, Personnel Director Yvonne Davis said.

Davis said the district allows teachers to use sick leave days for personal leave only in the event of a death in the immediate family, a court appearance or damage to personal property.

When Noel returned from the four-day leave, he received a letter of reprimand from the district and was docked for one day’s pay, Berger said.

In addition to seeking an increase in the amount of personal leave, the suit also seeks to rescind the reprimand and to refund the lost pay to Noel, Berger said. “Our district says three (days) and after that you have to lie about it,” union President Marion Shotliff said. “He was trying to be straightforward and honest, and he was punished for it.”

Davis declined to comment on the suit.