Texas Border Business
PHARR – Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD has worked hard to ensure the safety of all students and staff. On Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, during the regularly scheduled board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo along with Board President Jorge Zambrano recommended the approval of a resolution to extend COVID-19 paid leave for all PSJA staff. The resolution was approved unanimously.
“We hope many members of our PSJA staff do not have to use these days, but with this resolution they can have some peace of mind that these days are available for them if they need them,” said School Board President Jorge Zambrano.
On December 31, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which provided two weeks, or up to 80 hours of Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) for qualifying reasons related to COVID-19 expired. Effective January 1, 2021, employers are no longer required to provide paid time off to employees for any of the COVID-related reasons under EPSL or the Expanded Family Medical Leave Act.
The approved resolution supports the extension of paid leave (District EPSL) for all employees instructed not to report for work and who did not exhaust the former EPSLA leave. Furthermore, PSJA will provide additional leave for a maximum duration of 10 workdays to include EPSLA leave already taken. In addition, the district recommended an additional 10 days of paid leave (District eEPSL) after the employee utilizes all District EPSL and available local/state days up to a maximum of 10 days. In most cases, this will provide up to 20 days of additional days of paid leave during this fiscal year ending August 31, 2021.
“PSJA ISD plans to continue to ensure employees are valued with the utmost compassion and flexibility during this pandemic,” said PSJA Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo. “We appreciate our School Board of Trustees for their never-ending support, thank you!”
