WORCESTER—Worcester School Committee member Alex Guardiola is again calling for a more complete report on school district staff absences over the past few years.
Guardiola first requested the data in November 2024, asking the administration to detail how many employees maxed out their sick leave in 2022 and 2023.
A single-page response was submitted to the Standing Committee on Finance, Operations, and Governance (FOG) in June and then forwarded to the full school committee. That document showed that 15 employees exceeded their allotted 15 sick days over the two school years combined—a total that represents just 0.28% of the district’s 5,265 staff members. However, the data did not specify which roles those employees held, nor did it detail how many used the full allotment without exceeding it.
During the July 10 school committee meeting, Guardiola criticized the report as lacking depth and urgency. “We owe it to our students, our parents, our taxpayers to share requested information in full and in a timely manner,” Guardiola said. He noted that consistent teacher presence is crucial to student learning, allowing for instructional continuity and minimizing learning gaps caused by substitute coverage.
Guardiola said he was motivated to seek the information after hearing frequent concerns from both parents and educators about classroom consistency. He believes identifying attendance trends could help the district improve academic outcomes.
“This is something we have to continuously watch and monitor,” he added. “Substitutes can struggle with enforcing routines, leading to disruptions and increased instructional times.”
The committee approved a motion for a new, more detailed report. It will include the number of employees who used their full 15 sick days for school years ending in 2022, 2023, and 2024, along with a separate tally of how many exceeded their allotted time in consecutive years.
In a follow-up interview with the Worcester Guardian, Guardiola elaborated on what he hopes the more detailed report will reveal.
“The attendance of teachers plays a critical role in student learning and school success,” he said. “Consistent teacher presence ensures instructional continuity, fosters positive relationships, and supports academic progress.”
Guardiola emphasized that classroom teachers are the top priority when it comes to analyzing absentee trends.
“Their absence directly disrupts lesson continuity, student engagement, and academic progress,” he said.
He also pointed to ongoing challenges with finding qualified substitutes, particularly in specialized subjects like special education and STEM.
“When coverage is unavailable,” he said, “schools may combine classes or ask other staff to fill in, creating further disruption and causing burnout amongst their peers.”
While he cannot speak for other committee members, Guardiola said he has received significant feedback from across the district. “Since the July 10 meeting, I have received many emails, calls and texts showing appreciation for addressing this issue and having candid conversations to help find solutions.”
If the forthcoming data indicates a pattern of frequent absences, Guardiola said the district should respond with a “multi-pronged, solutions-oriented approach that balances accountability with support.”
“Before taking corrective action, the district should dig deeper into why absences are occurring,” he said. “If the data suggests stress, burnout, or physical health issues are major drivers, the administration should strengthen support for teacher wellness. Further, is there a way to create incentives for strong attendance?”
To those who may view the number of staff exceeding their sick days as insignificant, Guardiola pushed back.
“While the report we received suggests the number of staff exceeding their sick days is relatively small,” he added, “I would again refer to the fact that I am receiving a high number of inquiries and complaints from parents and other teachers alike. The concern is the consistent and chronic absenteeism that continues to be reported to members on this committee from the public.”
He also said he wants to ensure that any new report is transparent and accurate. “I am hoping to receive a report that does not manipulate numbers or categorize the meaning of ‘maxing out’ to include years when staff carried over days from prior years, which allows them to use more than 15 days per year. I want to know the number of folks who consistently use all of their sick time from year to year. We should encourage attendance for educators like we do for students.”
Jason Bleau can be reached at bleau.jason@yahoo.com
