Leaves of Absence, Article IV MASTER CONTRACT

ARTICLE VI


Leaves of Absence

A. Sick Leave

1. Sick leave shall be that specifically indicated by State law as follows:

The school district will provide sick leave as directed by State Law--ten (10) days for the first year of employment within the district, eleven (11) days for the second year, twelve (12) days for the third year,
thirteen (13) days for the fourth year, fourteen (14) days for the fifth year, and fifteen (15) days thereafter to accumulate a maximum of one hundred fifty (150) days.

Except that effective July 1, 2003, all new employees will accumulate a maximum of ninety (90) days.

Within 7 work days of returning to work, the forms the district requires for the use of sick leave must be completed and submitted or the leave will be unpaid.

2. Family Illness Leave. Each employee will be allowed up to a maximum of five (5) days per year without deduction in pay for a serious illness, serious injury, surgery or hospitalization in the immediate family. The immediate family will include wife, husband, children, mother, father, father- or mother-in-law, grandchildren, brother or sister, or anyone living in the home of the employee. For purposes of this section, serious illness or serious injury shall be defined as an illness or injury requiring the attention of a licensed physician. Family illness days taken will be deducted from the employee’s sick leave.

3. Adoption Leave. A short-term leave of absence without deduction in pay will be granted, upon approval of the Superintendent, to an employee in the event of his/her adoption of a child. Such paid adoption leave shall not exceed ten (10) days and the employee will be required to exchange one (1) sick leave day for each day of adoption leave used.

4. Notification of Accumulation. Employees shall be given a copy of a written accounting of accumulated sick leave days no later than October 1st of each school year. Failure of the employee to object to the accounting provided by the District within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the notice shall constitute a waiver of the employee's right to grieve said accounting.

5. Extended Leave. An employee who is unable to work because of personal illness or injury and who has exhausted all of his/her accumulated sick leave shall be granted an unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the illness or injury, not to extend beyond the current school year.

B. Personal Leave. Personal leave of two (2) days will be granted, with full pay. Personal leave requests are to be made three (3) days in advance of the anticipated absences except in cases of emergency. An employee requesting the leave shall state the reasons for the leave in writing on the form provided unless the leave request is for reasons which are of a personal and intimate nature. The reason shall be stated for record keeping purposes only. Not more than three employees from each attendance center may be granted personal leave for the same day, except in cases of emergency. Requests shall be honored on a first-come-first-served basis according to the time they are presented in writing and received in the principal's office. Personal leave may not be used on the last working day before, or the first working day after a holiday or vacation. At the end of each year employees will be reimbursed one hundred dollars ($100) for each day of unused personal leave.




C. Jury Duty. Any employee called for jury duty during school hours shall be provided such time. Any fees or remuneration the employee received during such leave shall be turned over to the Lewis Central Community Schools.

D. Bereavement. Employees will be allowed up to a maximum of seven (7) days per year without deduction in pay for a death in the employee’s family. 2 additional days may be taken from employee’s accumulated sick leave. For purposes of this section family shall include wife, husband, children, mother, father, brothers, sisters, sons- or daughters-in-law, fathers- or mothers-in-law, brothers- or sisters-in-law, grandmother, grandfather, grandchildren, aunts and uncles of the employee or the employee’s spouse, or anyone living in the home of the employee. Whenever there are extenuating circumstances, an employee should refer to Section H (3) of this agreement

1. Approval is subject to the superintendent and his decision shall be final. The above leave may be initiated by calling the building principal or the supervisor as the situation may determine.

E. Emergency Leave. Employees will be allowed a maximum of three (3) days of emergency leave subject to the following limitations:

1. An amount equal to the cost of the substitute shall be deducted from the employee's salary for each day missed.

2. Emergency leave requests are to be made as soon as possible after the emergency occurs.

3. All requests are subject to the approval of the building principal.

F. In Addition to Sick Leave. Leave of absences taken in B, C, D, and E of Leaves of Absence shall be in addition to any sick leave to which the employee is entitled.

G. Association Leaves. Up to twelve (12) days each year shall be granted to the Association for its representatives to attend conferences, conventions and other activities of the local, state, and national affiliated organizations. The Association shall reimburse the Board for the cost of substitute teachers for absentee employees.

H. Other Leaves of Absence. The Board of Education may grant a leave of absence for a definite period of time to employees, without pay, for the following:

1. Public Office. Leave for the purpose of serving in a full-time capacity in elected or appointed office of a teacher or other educational organization. This section and item also applies to an elected political office.

2. Leave for Additional Educational Training. A leave of up to one year may be granted, upon application, for the purpose of engaging in study at an accredited college or university, such study to be related to teacher's professional responsibilities at Lewis Central. Upon return from such leave, the employee shall be placed at the same vertical position on the salary schedule for which he/she was eligible at the time the leave commenced and the salary shall be adjusted for horizontal advancement according to credit hours earned.

3. The Board, at its discretion, may grant other paid or unpaid leaves.

I. Professional Leave. Attendance at educational meetings is permitted at full pay if such absence is approved by the employee's principal. If any regular full-time employee wishes to be absent from duty for a brief period to attend a professional meeting, a written request for approval of such absence on a form as provided by the Employer should be filed by the employee at least five (5) days prior to the first day of anticipated absence. Professional days shall be used for the purpose of:



1. Visitation to view other instructional techniques or programs.

2. Conferences, workshops, or seminars conducted by colleges, universities, or other educational institutions or organizations.

J. Pregnancy. Pregnancy will be treated as an illness to be covered under the Sick Leave section of the Master Contract.

K. Family and Medical Leave. Employees of the District are entitled to unpaid family and medical leaves to the same extent and subject to the same terms and conditions as set forth in The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. No provision of the Act is diminished by the inclusion of the provision in this contract nor are the pre-existing family or medical leave provisions of this contract diminished by the inclusion of this provision in this contract.