The parents of some students enrolled at Glen Park Elementary School in San Francisco are helping one of their children’s second-grade teacher fight cancer. They were shocked to find out that their children’s beloved teacher, who was diagnosed with breast cancer was required to pay for a substitute teacher to take over her classes while she goes on medical leave. Her pay check has been getting a subtraction of $195 for every day that she cannot come to class and teach because of her sickness.
“I just feel sad that from what I heard, she is a very good teacher and I just feel sad what’s going on to her. Our school is pulling together to help her and to make her feel that she’s not alone.” Narciso Flores-Diaz, a fellow parent told NBC Bay Area.
Some parents at the school have already managed to raise over $13,000 to pay for the substitute teacher’s fees. Aside from the help of these parents; the teacher, who prefers to keep her name secret also had another solution – using her union’s bank of sick days that were donated to any member that would be in need of it.
The San Francisco Unified School District gives their teachers 10 days of sick leave per year, and another 100 days that fall in an extended medical leave. This may seem generous, but after a teacher finishes their 10-day-sick leave and officially claims their extended leave, the district automatically bills them the payment for their substitute, which is part of the existing provision found in the education code of California.
“This is not unique to San Francisco. This is not a district-only rule,” Laura Dudnick, spokeswoman of San Francisco Unified School District told NBC News.
In 1976, lawmakers added a provision in the education code that states that teachers who cannot work because of illness or injuries must pay for their substitute. Democratic State Sen. Connie Leyva from Los Angeles, who sits on the chair of the education committee has vowed to change this law.
“Candidly, I think that times have changed and it’s our job to change with the times,” Leyva told NBC Bay Area.
The Glen Park teacher of 17 years deserves all the support she can get and has a GoFundMe page that was started by the community because “she has nurtured our children and now it is time for us to take care of her.”
“Her dedication and love for her students” can’t be overstated, according to the GoFundMe website page. “Just a few days after her surgery, she took the time to write out 22 completely personalized notes to the students in the class thanking them for their support, telling them she missed them dearly and encouraging them to continue working hard.”
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