Canyon District sets its vacation policy

SANDY — In unanimously approving its administrator salary schedule for Canyons School District, board members worked out bugs in vacation schedule policy Tuesday night.

The Canyons board had proposed a 12-month schedule with 20 vacation days.

Jordan District has its principals on an 11-month contract. They receive no official vacation days but have July off. Jordan officials point out their plan saves money since the district doesn't have to pay out vacation days when an employee leaves the district.

Canyons board added a caveat to their earlier proposal: a cap of 40 accumulated vacation days to be paid out.

Canyons Superintendent Dave Doty said one reason for the vacation schedule is many administrators don't take their days off in July.

Board president Tracy Cowdell asked Canyons Chief of Staff Bob Dowdle, who was formerly employed with Jordan District, how many days he worked during his "vacation month" last July. Dowdle said 17.

Doty said Canyons administrators should be able to take days off during the year with their family, such as an anniversary. Board members said typically a staff member can fill in for the principal if he or she is on vacation during the school year.

— Amy K. Stewart