Dear Superintendent Spielbauer, We, the undersigned, are writing because we’re disturbed that our teachers are facing a pandemic without any additional sick leave. Under normal circumstances, CASD teachers get ten days of sick leave a year plus three personal days. When they test positive for COVID, by district policy, they are required to stay home for at least eight days. During this leave, moreover, they’re still working, helping to plan classes for the substitute and keeping in touch with kids. This leaves them with only a few days, just for following district policy. If they get the flu or a bad cold, they pay a financial penalty for following the rules. Moreover, since there is no paid maternity leave at CASD, many teachers save sick days over multiple years to compensate. It takes three years with no sick days to save six weeks of maternity leave. A moderate case of COVID can wipe that saved time away. Teachers are risking COVID every day to help our kids learn. When they get sick they stay home not because they’re lazy, but to keeps our kids and community safe. Let’s not punish them for doing the right thing. Please reconsider the policy, and give our teachers dedicated COVID Leave.