(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – Education Commissioner Jon E. Draud announced today that he is withdrawing his request for additional leave time. The request was made to the Kentucky Board of Education at its meeting yesterday.
“In light of the criticism by Gov. Beshear and others reported by the media, I will not accept the additional sick leave and vacation time that was granted to me by the Kentucky Board of Education,” Draud said. “I feel that my request was very reasonable. However, I should have negotiated this issue with the board at the time of my employment.
“It is very important to me that my tenure as commissioner of education be viewed as ethical and placing the interest of children as my highest priority.
“I thank the members of the board for recognizing the fairness of my request.”
Draud had asked for 20 days of annual leave each year in lieu of the 12 days he was entitled to as a state government employee. He also requested a one-time bonus of 30 sick leave days.
The board discussed the request in closed session yesterday, then entertained a motion in open session to grant the request. The vote in favor was 8-0, with three members absent.
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