The state of Illinois in the spring legislative session codified several months of negotiations that would give fully vaccinated teachers back the sick days they used due to COVID illness.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Dr. Sheila Greenwood, Superintendent of Bement Schools, told Regional Radio this encompasses staff that had to take time off with COVID, a close contact absence, or taking care of children that had COVID.

For Dr. Greenwood, the conversation will encompass giving those unvaccinated teachers their sick days back as well. She points out this would be a school district's decision.

Also on the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Blue Ridge Schools Superintendent Dr. Hilary Stanifer pointed out the decision to give back sick days to teachers would be a school district decision and so they are considering a proposal to add to the number of sick days for staff.

For Dr. Stanifer, they are going to have to revisit records they had from the days of tracking COVID illnesses and quarantine times, and close contacts. However, she notes, not all absences were reported as COVID absences so they may have to do some back-tracking to find those days as well. She notes there is going to be a lot of work that comes with the legislation from Springfield.