The Levittown Board of Education and the teachers' union have inched closer to an agreement in the sick leave portion of a new contract and both sides were optimistic an agreement could be reached in the near future, if some adjustments are made.

For the third month in a row, members of the Levittown United Teachers (LUT) came to the monthly board of education meeting held last week, to fight what they have called an unfair sick leave policy. An earlier proposal by the board sought to punish "sick leave abusers" defined as teachers who are absent for more than six days per year in three of five consecutive years. The board of education has since dropped its request for disciplinary action and has instead asked that a third party review possible sick leave abuses.

Changing the wording of the policy led School Superintendent Dr. Herman A. Sirois to believe an agreement had been reached in principle on sick leave. Not so fast, said LUT President Martha Martin.

"There are some problems with the wording," she said. "There is some tweaking that needs to be done."

Martin said she wouldn't agree to the revised policy released at the meeting because it said, "The parties have agreed to implement a non-disciplinary process ... so as to provide guidance for the parties and others as to what may constitute sick leave abuse."

"How can you quantify what sick leave abuse is?" she asked. "We have no problem with a third party looking at possible sick leave abuses. But we don't want these decisions to become sick leave definitions."

"We have to have a policy because we don't have the authority to handle sick leave abusers," Dr. Sirois said during the meeting.

"The negotiations have come long way," he added. "I think we have an agreement. I still believe we can come to terms that in no way affect the teachers."

Of 200 teachers, union members and residents in the audience, nine spoke. Most also hoped the ongoing discussions would not affect teachers. Speakers asked the board of education to come to terms on the sick leave policy in order to keep top teachers in town.

"I can't believe I'm here again and this issue has not been decided," resident Maureen Wicelinski said. "Do not judge the majority for the few sick leave abusers."

The two sides have agreed upon having a third party review alleged sick leave abuses. The pact would call for a maximum of two hearings for a possible sick leave offender. But the cost of such an idea would be expensive, said Martin. A third party would charge $800 a hearing. And attorney fees would be extra. The price tag would be shared by the school district and the LUT.

By contrast, hiring a substitute teacher costs $90 a day, said Martin, adding that teachers get a maximum of 12 sick days a year.

"Most teachers don't use that many," she said. "The average teacher will use five to six sick days a year."

Dr. Sirois referred questions of the financial issue to Assistant Superintendent of Administration Gerald Claps. Claps did not comment.

Although the two sides have come closer to an agreement, no further talks have been scheduled, Martin said. The parties last met for nine hours in late March.

Even if the two groups agreed to a sick leave policy quickly, a number of other topics would be negotiated before teachers work under a new contract. The former contract expired June 30. Teachers have worked under the terms of the last agreement since.