Paid Leave Contributions will continue whilst a member of a fund is absent on paid annual leave, sick leave, long service leave, public holidays, jury service, bereavement leave, or other paid leave.
Paid Leaves SECTION A At the beginning of the school year, each administrator shall be credited with ten (10) days sick leave per year for all administrators except the High School Principal, Chief Information Officer, Director of Facilities/Maintenance, and the Director of Adult Education who shall be credited with twelve (12) sick leave days per year, accruable to a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) days. Unused personal business leave days may be accrued at the rate of two (2) days per year to extend maximum sick leave accumulation to one hundred forty (140) days. If the administrator should become a teacher in the district, teacher sick leave policies will apply.
SECTION B Up to five (5) days of accrued sick leave per fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) may be used for the critical illness of a member of the administrator’s immediate family which shall be defined as the administrator’s spouse, child, parent, or any relative who is a permanent resident of the administrator’s household or is a dependent for tax purposes. Critical illness shall be defined as a serious emergency or life-threatening condition requiring the presence of the administrator.
SECTION C An administrator may use up to four (4) days per fiscal year, not charged to sick leave, for personal business. These days shall not be accumulative except as indicated in Section A. The use of these days must be arranged in advance with the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel. An administrator planning to use a personal business day at least three (3) days in advance, except in cases of emergency. Prior approval by the Superintendent is required for personal business days taken the day before or the day following a holiday or vacation or during the first five (5) or last five (5) days of the school year.
SECTION D Each administrator will be granted five (5) days leave not charged to sick leave in the case of a death in the immediate family which shall be defined as parent, spouse, and child. Two (2) days not charged to sick leave, will be granted for the death of grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings (including in-law and step-relatives.) One (1) day, not charged to sick leave, may be granted by the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the funeral of a person whose relationship to the administrator warrants such attendance. Additional days may be granted by the Superintendent.
SECTION E Each fiscal year an administrator will be allowed one (1) professional day which may accumulate from year to year to a maximum of five (5) days. Subject to the prior approval of the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, a professional day(s) may be used for any educational purpose. A written request shall be made at least five (5) days in advance of a planned professional day absence.
SECTION F An administrator who is summoned and reports for jury duty, as prescribed by applicable law, shall receive regular compensation. Any compensation received for jury service (not to include expense reimbursement) shall be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel or his designee. Leave of absence with pay shall be granted for court appearances as a witness in any case in which the administrator’s connection with the case stems from his employment with the Board, provided that the legal action is not instigated by or on behalf of the administrator or Association against the Board. Any witness fee paid to the administrator shall be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel. Worker’s compensation will be the exclusive remedy for any work-related injury or disability provided worker’s compensation is available.
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.
Paid Leaves of Absence Paid leaves of absences granted under this Article shall not exceed the employee's normal work schedule.
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.
Unpaid Leaves Employees on unpaid leaves may not participate in the matching program while on leave.
Extended Leave of Absence Professional employees who have attained renewable contract status may request extended leaves of absence for one (1) year without pay under any one of the circumstances listed in this section. All requests for such extended leave of absence will be applied for and granted or rejected in writing. Such application will be reviewed by the principal and superintendent. If the latter approves, he/she will recommend that the leave be granted by the Board. An employee returning from an extended leave will be assigned to the same position as that which he/she held before assuming the leave, providing that position still exists. By mutual agreement between the employer and the employees, he/she may be given a different assignment. Extended leaves of absence may be requested under, but not limited to, the following:
1. To serve in a county, state, or national public office.
2. To care for a sick member of the immediate family.
3. To serve as an exchange teacher or an overseas teacher.
4. To accept a sabbatical leave.
Unpaid Leave Accrued compensatory time off may be used at the employee’s discretion, with management approval, after exhaustion of 100% sick leave (No. 3 above). However, FLSA compensatory time off shall not be counted against the employee’s four (4) month (nine [9] pay period [720 hours]) family or medical leave entitlement. Therefore, any use of FLSA compensatory time off under this Section shall extend the employee’s family or medical leave by the total amount of FLSA compensatory time off used.
Leave Days 1. Each full-time teacher employed under regular contract shall be entitled to an annual allotment of thirteen (13) leave days. Such allotment shall be credited the first day of each school year and unused days shall be accumulated as sick leave to a total of one hundred eighty-two and one half (182.5) days. The teacher’s accumulated sick days may be used following use of 13 days and a doctor’s note with approval by Superintendent. Certificated staff with an accumulation of 182.5 days of accumulated sick leave shall be compensated at the end of each school year at the rate of the current daily certified substitute pay per each unused day above the 182.5 day accumulation. Such payments shall be made in July of each year. This money shall be placed in the teacher’s 403(b). If school corporation revenue in the Education Fund exceeds expenditures in the calendar year by an amount between $6,000 and $24,000, then the amount of that excess (minus compensation pay), not to exceed $18,000, shall be made available to fund a buyback of unused accumulated sick leave days on the following terms: Teachers shall have the option of selling up to ten (10) days, per round, of unused accumulated sick leave back to the school corporation at the daily rate of pay for a certified substitute teacher. This option will be offered to teachers in accordance with their seniority (total years of continuous service at Western Xxxxx) in the school corporation, with the teacher with the most seniority having priority to exercise the option, and it shall be available only to the extent of the total amount of money available as set forth above. Payment for these days shall be deposited in the individual teacher’s 403(b) plan, and upon payment those sick leave days shall no longer be available to the selling teacher. Said days must have been earned while the teacher has been employed in the school corporation. To participate in the program a teacher must maintain at all times a minimum balance of one hundred (100) days of accumulated sick leave. This method shall continue in successive rounds until the available money remaining less than daily rate of pay for a certified substitute teacher. If more money is available to the school corporation than is needed to fund the buy-backs exercised under this program, the school corporation may retain such money in its Education Fund. After selling a cumulative amount of eighty (80) days, teachers will receive a guaranteed buyback of any leave days over one hundred (100) remaining at the end of each school year.
2. A teacher employed under regular contract for only a portion of the school year shall be entitled to a proportional number of days (beginning the day they return to full-time status), and unused days shall be accumulative as specified herein.
3. Teachers shall be permitted to take one-half (1/2) day of paid leave which shall be recorded as one-half (1/2) day of paid leave.
4. Certificated staff may, in any academic year, utilize up to five (5) accumulated sick days for emergency family illness or injury (providing a written doctor’s note). The staff member must first use all 13 leave days and submit the request to the superintendent. These five days may be used for the medical emergency of only a spouse, children, mother, father, mother-in-law or father-in-law.
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
