Unpaid Leaves of Absence 24.01 An employee who has completed one (1) year of continuous service with the Employer may be granted a leave of absence without pay or benefits because of injury, illness, education purposes, employment by the Union, or other personal reasons, including maternity leave. The decision to grant the leave or the length of the leave period will be at the discretion of the Employer with due consideration given to the reasons and evidence presented by the employee to the Employer. Such requests shall not be unreasonably denied.
24.02 All leaves of absence (and any extensions thereof) must be applied for and granted in writing on forms provided by the Employer (with a copy to the employee). Except in cases of emergency, the leave request shall be filed with the employee's Department Head not later than two (2) weeks prior to the date on which the leave is to start. Along with the request for the leave, he shall supply any and all available documentation in support of said leave. This documentation shall consist of medical proof of disability in cases where the leave is for medical purposes and the specific reason for the leave when the leave is for other purposes. An employee will be notified in writing within five (5) working days from the date the application was made of the approval or disapproval of the leave of absence request for ten (10) working days or less. For a leave request in excess of ten (10) working days, the employee will be notified within two (2) weeks from the date the application was made of the approval or disapproval of the leave. An employee who is granted such a leave shall not accrue any benefits during his absence, including seniority.
24.03 Leaves of absence will not be granted for the employee to seek employment with another employer, nor shall any employee work for another employer during the time period he is on leave. Any employee who works for another employer while on leave shall have his leave canceled immediately and be subject to disciplinary action.
24.04 When an employee returns to work after a leave of absence, he will be assigned to the position which he formerly occupied or to a similar position if his former position no longer exists at the applicable rate of pay, provided the employee is able to perform the work.
24.05 An employee may, upon request, return to work prior to the expiration of any leave of absence, provided that such early return is agreed to by the Employer.
24.06 Employees absent from work without authorization or approval shall be considered on an unauthorized leave. An unauthorized leave for a period of more than four (4) eight (8) hour consecutive working days may, at the Employers discretion, subject the employee to disciplinary action, including discharge.
Sick Leave Usage 1. Sick leave may be used by an employee when sick, injured, or quarantined. Also sick leave may be used on the occasion of an illness in the employee's family, where a need can be shown.
2. In computing compensation payable for sick leave, the compensation paid shall be the amount the employee would earn during the sick leave period if working at their current rate of pay and work schedule without the inclusion of overtime earnings.
Sick Leave Cash Out Eligible employees may elect to receive monetary compensation for accrued sick leave as follows: In January of each year an employee whose sick leave balance at the end of the previous year exceeds four hundred eighty (480) hours may elect to convert the sick leave hours earned in the previous calendar year, minus those hours used during the year, to monetary compensation. No sick leave hours may be converted which would reduce the calendar year end balance below four hundred eighty (480) hours. Monetary compensation shall be paid at the rate of twenty-five percent and shall be based on the employee’s current salary. All converted hours will be deducted from the sick leave balance. Employees who separate from University service due to retirement or death shall be compensated for the unused sick leave accumulation from the date of most recent hire in a leave eligible position with the State of Washington at the rate of 25%. Compensation shall be based upon the employee’s wage at the time of separation. For the purpose of this section, retirement shall not include vested out of service employees who leave funds on deposit with the retirement system. Former eligible employees who are re-employed within three (3) years of their separation from service shall be granted all unused sick leave credits, if any, to which they are entitled at time of separation.
EXTENDED LEAVES OF ABSENCE A. Extended Leaves of Absence: As applicable, staff members employed during the 2015-16 school year will be “grandfathered” under the terms of the previous language. Provision has been made by the Board of Education for absence from duty of Professional Employees as follows: Health Leave Association Business Leave Parental Leave Military Leave Foreign Travel or Teaching - Academic Study Personal All requests for extended leaves of absence will be applied for and those approved shall be granted in writing. Professional Employees requesting reassignment upon completion of an extended leave of absence will be assigned to the first available position based upon their professional preparation, experience, and certification. Except for Association Business Leave and Military Leave, if a vacancy is not available by the beginning of the second year following the completion of the leave, the leave status ends and the Professional Employee is terminated from the district. Part-time Professional Employees who go on Extended Leave of Absence should not expect to return to a position which would increase their contract time. A part-time Professional Employee returning from Extended Leave of Absence may be offered a position of greater contract time.
B. Health Leave (extended) Any Professional Employee, having served the district for a minimum of three years, or with approval from the Superintendent and/or their designee, whose personal illness or physical incapacity extends beyond accumulated Xxxx Leave will be granted leave of absence without pay or increment for the remainder of the current semester. Health leave may be extended for one additional semester with application, as appropriate and available, made no less than 30 days prior to the conclusion of the current semester. In cases where such notice is not available, consideration will be made at the discretion of the Superintendent and/or their designee. At such time as the employee is diagnosed by their medical advisor as able to return to work, the employee may be returned to a position for which they are licensed, provided one is available, at the beginning of the subsequent semester or school year. Under no circumstances will an employee be entitled to return to a position.
C. Association Business Leave (extended)
1. Professional Employees designated by the recognized employees' organization may, upon request, be granted a leave of absence for up to two years without pay, for the purpose of engaging in activities of local, state, and national affiliates of the Association. Upon return from such a leave, a Professional Employee will be assigned to the same position, if available; or, if not, to a substantially equivalent position.
2. The president of the NEA SM may, upon request, be granted a leave of absence for up to six years for the purposes of performing those duties. The district will annually issue an employment contract to the NEA SM president during the term of the president's service. Such president shall receive Experience Credit as outlined in Article XI (Contracts and Salaries) C. (Experience Credit), 2. (Present Employees), hereof. During the tenure of the NEA SM president, the provisions of Article VIII (Temporary Leaves of Absence) hereof shall not apply to said president, including the accumulation of temporary leave and the reporting of absences to the district. The NEA SM will reimburse the district for all salary and benefits costs associated with the president's compensation. The Association agrees that the NEA SM president does not serve as an agent of the district while performing duties of the NEA SM president. Accordingly, the Association agrees to indemnify and hold the district harmless for any action of the NEA SM president while performing duties of the NEA SM president. Upon return from such leave, the NEA SM president will be assigned to the same position, if available, or, if not, to a substantially equivalent position. During the president's leave of absence, the president may agree to accept an additional assignment from the district. In that case, the district and the president shall agree (a) to the president's duties and responsibilities, (b) the terms and conditions of that assignment, and (c) an appropriate credit toward the NEA SM reimbursement for the president's salary and benefits.
D. Parental Leave (extended)
1. A Professional Employee may be granted a leave of absence, without pay or increment, for the purpose of prenatal care, or for the purpose of childcare, upon the birth of or adoption of a child. Under special/appropriate circumstances, approved Parental Leave (extended) may be adjusted/discontinued with the approval of the Superintendent and/or their designee.
a. In the event of pregnancy, the Professional Employee shall file a request for extended parental leave with the Human Resources Office at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy.
b. In the event of an adoption, the Professional Employee shall file written notice with Human Resources at the time the Professional Employee received notice from the adoption agency.
c. Such leave may commence at any time and will extend through the end of the current semester.
d. Upon written application, such leave may be extended for one semester. Exceptions to this policy will be governed by the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
E. Military Leave (extended)
1. Leave for military or alternate civilian service, as provided by law or in the regulations of the Selective Service System, will be granted, without pay or increment, to any Professional Employee who is inducted or enlists in active military or civilian services. This leave shall continue for the duration of the period of actual service and for ninety (90) days immediately following the honorable discharge or separation of the employee.
2. Within ninety (90) days following the honorable discharge, each person desiring reinstatement shall so notify the Board and shall furnish evidence of physical fitness and mental competence to do the kind of work the Professional Employee was doing at the time leave was granted, or such work as may be available.
3. This leave does not include or guarantee any assignment in addition to, or independent of, the standard assignment or any extra-standard salary allotment therefor.
4. Every possible consideration and preference in assignment shall be accorded to persons returning to the schools from the Armed Services.
5. This leave applies only to persons who enter military service, and does not apply to persons who voluntarily seek employment in war industries or other governmental positions.
6. Professional Employees who are members of units of the National Guard or reserve forces of the United States and who are called to serve a mandated tour of duty for training or other service by proper authority pursuant to the laws of the United States or of the State of Kansas, shall be granted a leave of absence not to exceed fifteen (15) days during a contract period. Professional Employees called to serve will select those duty options which least interfere with the educational program of the District. The Professional Employee will be reimbursed by the District to make up any difference between the Professional Employee's base contract daily rate and the Professional Employee's military pay during this leave of absence.
F. Foreign Travel or Teaching; Academic Study (extended)
1. Foreign Travel
Leaves of Absences 10.1 It is agreed that the use of leave days will be confined to legitimate purposes provided in this Article and the Superintendent or his/her designee may, at his/her sole discretion, extend the leaves set forth herein.
Paid Leaves of Absence Paid leaves of absences granted under this Article shall not exceed the employee's normal work schedule.
Sick Leave Pool The purpose of the emergency sick leave pool is to furnish additional sick days for certified staff under the negotiated agreement. This leave can only be used during the school year after the teacher has exhausted all regular accumulated sick leave and discretionary leave. Leave will be granted for catastrophic illness or injury of the employee only, on a first-come, first-ask basis. The emergency sick leave pool will be funded by the days certified staff has over the 80-day maximum sick leave this is given to each employee on July 1 of each year. All days over the 80-day accumulated sick leave the employees receive will be put into an emergency sick leave pool with an accumulation not to exceed 80 days for the pool. The maximum number of emergency sick leave pool days that may be accumulated during the school year is 20 days. A written application along with a physician’s statement documenting the nature of the catastrophic illness or injury must be sent to the building principal. The Emergency Sick Leave Pool Committee will meet within 10 calendar days after receiving the application to consider the request. The application may be sent to the building principal before the employee’s regular sick leave ends. The Emergency Sick Leave Pool Committee will consist of six members. One member from each of the four schools (“Primary, Intermediate, Middle, and High School”) the Superintendent and the building principal from the building of the applicant. All members will meet to determine ach request; however, the committee member representing the same building as the applicant will not vote. The building principal and superintendent will vote in all cases. The committee members will serve for a period of two years. The Primary and Middle School members will be elected on even calendar years and the Intermediate and the High School members will be elected on odd calendar years. If a member of the committee leaves the employment of the USD 210 before the end of his/her term, the committee will appoint a new committee member form the affected building. The committee members will be in place by September 1 of each year. The emergency sick leave bank may not be used to cover employees who are receiving pay, salary protection payments, and disability insurance payments or are eligible to receive compensation from workers’ compensation or KPERS disability.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE applies for both paid and unpaid leaves. For the purposes of an unpaid 11.25 hour shift, the deduction from pay shall equate to 14.05 hours. For the purposes of an unpaid 7.5 hour shift, the deduction from pay shall equate to 9.375 hours.
Sick Leave Without Pay Sick leave without pay shall be granted to an employee who does not qualify for sick leave with pay or who is unable to return to work at the termination of the period for which sick leave with pay is granted by mutual agreement of the parties hereto.
Unpaid Leave of Absence If an employee is on an unpaid leave of absence, then vacation leave, compensatory time, or sick leave cannot be used for the purpose of maintaining eligibility for an Employer Contribution by keeping the employee on a State payroll for one (1) working day per pay period.
