SPRINGFIELD, Illinois
In a decision obtained by The Associated Press, an arbitrator determined last month that the State Board of education employee travel time is working time, and more than 200 professional agents for compensation free time to travel outside their working hours since the Agency announced it was changing travel policy in November 2009.
The decision, which could mean days or weeks paid time-off for hundreds of employees, comes at a difficult financial period for the country and the institution where 450 staff has been reduced by 40 percent in the last decade to save money. In the meantime, the District School months behind in receiving State funds and seek further assistance from the Agency.
2009 policy change ordered by Donald Evans, Director of the State Council of human resources and professional development. It ended the practice of awarding compensation for employee time off for the day when they work overtime because of the way.