DDDB-AP: Extended Leave: Long-Term Professional Leave for Professional Staff
Long-term professional leaves of absence for educational training and other professional growth experience may be granted to professional staff members at the sole discretion of the superintendent.
CRITERIA FOR GRANTING
Eligible teachers must apply to the superintendent and all such leaves shall be subject to their approval.
A professional staff member must have a minimum of three consecutive years of experience within the district.
Professional staff members applying for the first time for long-term professional leaves shall be given priority over those professional staff members requesting either an extension of a granted leave or an additional leave after having previously been granted a long-term leave.
In order for the superintendent to approve a leave, a suitable replacement as determined by the superintendent must be available.
CONDITIONS FOR APPROVED LEAVE
Long-term educational training leaves and other long-term professional growth experiences shall not be for less than one semester and not more than two school years.
A person granted a long-term leave of absence shall not be entitled to receive any salary or fringe benefits during the entire term of the leave of absence.
While on leave, a professional staff member may continue with insurance coverage provided all costs, premiums, deductibles, etc., are borne by the professional staff member.
Provided that written notice of intent to return is received by the superintendent, no later than March 1 of the calendar year in which said leave is to be completed, or no later than November 1, if the leave is for the first semester only, a professional staff member on leave will be assured of a position in the school system at the conclusion of the leave, but reassignment to the same school or teaching area is not guaranteed. Failure to submit the written notice of intent to return by the specified date shall be deemed to be a voluntary resignation and waiver of the right to reemployment
A professional staff member on long-term professional leave is subject to reduction in force the same as if the professional staff member had not been on leave.
A professional staff member who returns from educational training leave within the provisions of this section shall retain all previous experience credit for pay purposes as of the commencement of the leave. The professional staff member shall not accrue additional experience credit for pay purposes or leave time during the period of absence.
Upon returning to the district, the professional staff member shall have restored benefits to which they were entitled at the time the leave commenced, including unused accumulated sick leave and accumulated personal leave.
Adopted: 03/26/79
Reviewed:
Revised: 12/21/84, 03/13/89
01/25/93, 04/10/95
06/29/98, 10/26/98
07/27/09, 02/07/17