, Other Long and Short Term Leaves. An employee may apply for a leave of absence for any reason not covered under other Articles of this Agreement. An application for a leave of absence under this Section shall be made in writing to the Employer, setting forth the reason for the requested leave. No such leave shall be granted unless expressly authorized by the Employer in writing. In considering such leave requests, the Employer will give consideration to the reason for the request, the effect on the system, the availability of a substitute and other factors as may be deemed relevant by the Employer. The granting or denying of such leave requests rests in the discretion of the Employer. All leaves will be limited to two years. If an employee on authorized medical leave exceeds the two-year limitation, the employee shall continue to be eligible for hospitalization, medical and major medical insurance benefits in accordance with Article XIV, Section 2, even though the employee will have been deemed to have terminated employment. Leaves of absence required by law will be granted according to the provisions of the law. If an employee is granted a leave under this Section, the employee shall not be eligible for any of the fringe benefits provided for in this Agreement, nor for pay during said leave except as may be agreed upon in writing by the School Board at the time the leave is granted. Employees granted leaves under this Section shall be permitted to purchase at their own expense hospital/medical insurance fringe benefits to the extent permitted by the carriers involved. An exception to this for employees on medical leave who are also on Income Protection Insurance is described in Article XIV, Section 2. In the event that a leave is granted under this Section, the employee shall retain such amount of sick leave days and other accrued benefits, including seniority, as had accrued prior to the leave for use upon the employee's return. No accrual of leave or accrual for any other purpose shall take place during the time that the employee is on such leave, unless the Employer has expressly provided for such in writing at the time of granting the leave. Employees on leave shall notify the Employer of their intention to return as may be required by the Employer. Failure of an employee to return from any leave of absence granted under this Section at the specified date for return will result in termination of employment and loss of seniority and all accrued benefits.
, Other Long and Short Term Leaves. Subd. 1 - An employee may apply for a leave of absence for any reason not covered under other Articles of this Agreement.
