Extended Leave of Absence A. The Committee agrees that one teacher, on professional status, designated by the Association, per contract year, may at the discretion of the Committee be granted a leave of absence for no more than two (2) years without pay for the purpose of engaging in Association (local, state or national) activities. Upon return from such leave, the teacher may be considered as if he/she were actively employed by the Committee and may be placed on the salary schedule at the level he/she would have achieved if he/she had not been absent on such leave. B. A leave of absence, without pay, of up to two (2) years, will be granted to one teacher, on professional status, per school year, for the purpose of joining the Peace Corps, or serving as a teacher in an exchange program approved by the Superintendent, and, provided further that said teacher is a full-time participant in either of the above described programs. Upon return from such leave, a teacher will be considered as if he/she were actively employed by the Committee during the leave and will be placed on the salary schedule at the level he/she would have achieved if he/she had not been absent on such leave. C. Military leave without pay will be granted to a teacher upon such teacher's enlistment or induction in the armed forces of the United States, to extend through such teacher’s initial enlistment or tour of duty. On return from such leave, the teacher will be placed on the salary schedule at the level he/she would have achieved had he/she remained actively employed by the Cohasset Public Schools during the period of his/her absence. If the teacher should voluntarily remain in the armed forces beyond the expiration of his/her enlistment or first tour of duty, his/her place on the salary schedule shall be determined at the discretion of the Committee. D. A maternity/paternity/adoption leave of absence without pay of up to one (1) year will be granted upon request to a teacher who has been employed on active duty for his/her full schedule for a minimum of three (3) consecutive months prior to the start of the leave period. A request for maternity/paternity/adoption leave must be submitted under ordinary circumstances in writing to the Superintendent of Schools at least eight (8) weeks before the requested anticipated date of departure, and the anticipated date of return must be specified. A teacher who takes an extended leave unpaid in excess of eight (8) weeks for the purpose of child-rearing must submit notification in writing to the Superintendent of Schools at least eight
