Common use of Professional Study or Travel Clause in Contracts

Professional Study or Travel. a. Leaves of absence, without pay, for professional study or travel may be granted to bargaining unit members not to exceed one (1) full year. An applicant on leave for professional study shall outline, in writing, the program of study to be pursued. The Superintendent/Designee shall recommend the approval of such leave only if, in his/her opinion, the program of study or travel is of such a nature as to contribute directly to improved educational conditions in the District. b. Leave of absence for professional study or for travel may be granted for a period of one (1) year, except at the discretion of the Superintendent/Designee, and only when it can be clearly demonstrated that the program of the District will not suffer as a result of the granting of such a leave. Absence, without leave having been granted, shall be considered as termination of contract by the bargaining unit member. c. Termination of the above two (2) kinds of leave shall be only on written request of the bargaining unit member on leave, said request being filed with the Superintendent/Designee not less than one hundred-twenty (120) days prior to the return to duty of the member. Failure to comply with this regulation may be deemed an automatic resignation. d. Any bargaining unit member who, while on leave for professional study or for travel, engages in employment comparable to his/her employment with the District, shall be considered to have terminated his/her contract.