SHAWANO, WI- The Shawano School Board says they are going to do everything they can to help a 44-year-old Shawano Middle School Teacher who they had to terminate this month.
“We want him back,” said School Board President Mike Musolff.
Aaron Sischo has been teaching in the Shawano District for 22 years, but suffered a major stroke in January, and has been out of the classroom and recovering since.
The school district confirmed that Sischo had sick leave built up and it just ran out in November.
Sischo and his fiance Andrea Cluka were both at the board meeting this week to address the situation.
The Shawano School Board went into a closed session after the meeting where Sischo learned that the district will bring him back once he is able to teach again.
“The District Office will be helping with all transitions through available programs and when Aaron is ready to return to work, the Shawano School District will hire Aaron back in similar teaching position with his seniority in tact,” Musolff told TCHDailynews. “We will do everything in our power to make sure that Aaron is taken care of with whatever benefits are available for him.”
Cluka told TCHDailynews that they went to the meeting to let the board know how the district treated a long term employee when they suffer a serious medical condition. “They don’t reach out and they don’t help navigate the next steps, that was hurtful,” she said. “We were left to fend for ourselves.”
Musolff said the board agreed that the district would help with the employer portion of Cobra and that the district office would help with all the paperwork to apply for any assistance necessary, including with the Wisconsin State Retirement.
The board voted unanimous to uphold the termination on Monday. Musolff said that would be the only way that Sischo could get possible future assistance because Group Health Plans are only available to eligible participants.
“To be an eligible participant status, you have to be an active employee that is regularly performing services for the Shawano School District,” Musolff told TCHDailynews. “Staying employed without working can actually hurt you when you apply for other benefits, such as through the Wisconsin Retirement System. The WRS only offers benefits after employment separation.
Cluka did say she did hear the board say that they would hire Sischo back, but they did not receive that in writing. As far as helping with the paperwork, “They are 11 months too late for us,” said Sischo.
Cluka also commented that the stroke occurred because of all the stress the staff was feeling under the previous administration.
Musolff said in these situations, we need to find ways to make sure that the separated employee has the best possible solutions for their situation.
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