GCBDB: Professional Staff Long-term Leaves and Absences

The Board of Education recognizes that the personal welfare and the professional growth of its employees may require occasional extended absences from duty. Therefore, the Board may grant the following long-term leaves of absence under specified conditions. The primary criteria in considering requests for leaves of absences will be the effect of the requested leave on the education of district students.

Sabbatical Leaves of Absence

The Board of Education may grant sabbatical leaves of absence to certificated employees for further professional study at the graduate level under the following conditions:

1. The leave of absence will be based upon an application by the employee, recommendation of the superintendent and the certification of the respective building principal that a quality replacement is available. Sabbatical leaves will not be granted for a period in excess of one school year and will require full-time enrollment.

2. The applicant shall have been a certificated employee of the school district for not less than six consecutive years immediately preceding the application.

3. The teacher shall request the leave 90 days prior to the end of the school year preceding the leave period. The teacher’s request must include an explanation concerning why the professional study requires full-time attendance.

4. The leave of absence shall be without pay by the school district. Benefits will be continued only if the employee pays the appropriate premiums.

5. The decision of the Board will be based primarily upon the district’s educational program and the Board’s decision will be final.

Military Leaves of Absence

The Board of Education will grant military leave as required by law and as described in Board policy.

1. Pursuant to federal law, employment and re-employment rights shall be maintained for periods of service up to five years or more as required by statute.

2. Pursuant to state law, employees taking military leave are entitled to up to 120 hours of paid leave for military duty. Pay will only be available for hours of military leave that occur at a time when the employee would otherwise have been required to be at work.

3. Leaves for military service will not be counted as continuous full-time service when computing tenure but shall not impair tenure previously acquired nor affect any credit toward tenure previously earned.

4. After initial employment with the district, time spent on military leave shall be counted in determining placement on the salary schedule.

One-Year General Leaves of Absence

The Board of Education may grant a one-year general leave of absence for reasons other than the continuation of professional study – for example, illness, child rearing, adoption, or other personal reasons. If applicable, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provisions will be followed as required by law. The primary criteria in considering requests for leaves of absences will be the effect of the requested leave on the education of district students. These general leaves would be subject to the following conditions:

1. The leave of absence shall be based upon application by the teacher; it shall coincide with the school year and not be for a period of more than one year. Leaves will not be counted as continuous full-time service when computing tenure but shall not impair tenure previously acquired nor affect any credit toward tenure previously earned.

2. Leave of absence will be based upon recommendation by the superintendent and certification of the respective building principal that a quality replacement is available.

3. The applicant shall have been a certificated employee of the school district for not less than six consecutive years immediately preceding the application.

4. The teacher shall request the leave 90 calendar days prior to the end of the school year preceding the leave period.

5. The Board of Education shall determine in its sole discretion whether the applicant has provided valid reasons for a leave. The number of leaves granted in any one year shall be left to the discretion of the Board of Education.

6. Upon the staff member's return to the school system, the employee shall be reinstated at the proper position on the salary schedule, losing only that time during which regular duties were not performed. The Board retains the right to make actual working assignments within the teacher’s area of certification. Teachers will not be guaranteed a return to the prior teaching assignment.

7. The leave of absence shall be without pay or benefits by the school district.

16 C.S.R. 10-4.014

Federal

38 U.S.C. § 4301-4333 Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act

§ 169.595, RSMo §§ 105.270-.271, RSMo