East Greenwich - Article IX Extended Leaves of Absence

ARTICLE IX EXTENDED LEAVES OF ABSENCE

East Greenwich School District

9-1 The Superintendent will grant one (1) teacher who has served for at least three (3) years in the District, upon request, a leave of absence for up to one (1) year without pay for the purpose of engaging in Association {Local, State or National) activities. This leave must be requested in writing by May 1 and submitted with proof or certification from the teacher of the Association business that is contemplated to justify such leave of absence. Upon return from such leave, the teacher shall be placed on the appropriate step of the salary schedule as if he/she had not left.
Whenever possible, by March 1 of the leave year, the teacher must notify the School
Department whether or not he/she will return.

9-2 A leave of absence, without pay, of up to two (2) years will be granted to teachers who join the Peace corps, Vista, or Teacher Corps or serve as exchange teachers and are full-time participants in any of such programs and who have completed at least three (3) years in the District. Written proof or certification shall be submitted to the Superintendent with the application requesting such leave. Upon return from such leave, a teacher will be considered as if he/she were actively employed by the Committee during the leave and will be placed on the salary schedule at the level he/she would have achieved if he/she had not been absent.

9-3 Military leave without pay will be granted to any teacher who is inducted or enlists in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. Upon return from such leave, a teacher will be placed on the salary schedule at the level which he/she would have achieved had he/she remained actively employed in the system during the period of their absence to a maximum of four (4) years.

The Superintendent shall grant a teacher a military leave of absence for training, either with or without pay, at the discretion of the teacher, not to exceed ten (10) school days. The request shall be made as soon as possible after the teacher has been advised of the training. When leave with pay is elected, the military pay received for the training shall be turned over to the District.

9-3.1 All teachers who are deployed to active military duty shall receive full contractual benefits including step and scale salary, that is the difference between military pay and benefits and contractual pay and benefits. The School Committee shall make teachers whole for any salary loss due to their deployment.

9-3.2 In the event extended leave is granted under this article, the teacher's anticipated wages and benefits accruing during such leave shall be reconciled with the Human Resource Coordinator.

Extended Leaves

9-4 Parental Leave

Parental leave shall be granted to a teacher on the occasion of the birth or adoption of a child to a teacher or to a teacher's spouse or partner; on the occasion of the placement of a child sixteen years of age or younger with said teacher; on the occasion of the serious illness of a natural or adoptive child of said teacher for the duration of such illness or one (1) year, whichever is less. Parental leave shall be for a period of up to one (1) year, and shall be without pay or benefits, except health insurance as provided elsewhere in the Contract, which health insurance shall be limited to a period of twelve (12) months. The teacher who elects to take parental leave must notify the Superintendent in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of the leave. Teachers taking leave in excess of that permitted by Title 28, Chapter 48 of the General Laws of the State of Rhode Island must return at the beginning of the school year in September or at the beginning of the second semester. If the teacher commences parental leave after January 1 of any school year, the teacher may take such parental leave in excess of one (1) year providing for a return at the beginning of the school year in September of the following calendar year. In these instances, teachers must provide the Administration with notice on or before June 30 of their intended return date. Parental leave may be taken by a teacher in lieu of or after and continuous with leave taken pursuant to 8-1.4.A one (1) year only teacher shall not be eligible for Parental Leave. Any leave discharged under this section shall be counted against a teacher's qualifying leave entitlements under the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") of 1993, Pub. L. No. 103-03, Section 405(b)(2), 107 Sta. 6 (1993) and the Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act ("RIPFMLA"), R.I. Gen. Laws §28-48-1, et seq.

9-5 A leave of absence without pay or increment of up to one (1) year shall be granted for the purpose of caring for a sick or disabled member of the teacher's immediate family upon the presentation of a doctor's certificate that indicates such care is necessary.

9-6 A teacher whose personal illness or disability extends beyond the period compensated, shall be granted a leave of absence without pay or increment for such time as is necessary, as indicated by a doctor's certificate, for complete recovery from such illness.

9-7 The Superintendent shall have the discretion to grant leaves of absence without pay for any other reason that is not articulated in this Agreement, provided, however, that the teacher provide a written request at least ninety (90) days in advance of the start of any school year covered under this Agreement. Any such requested leave must specify in detail the reasons for such leave. If the Superintendent exercises their discretion to grant leave under this provision, the parties agree that such exercise of discretion shall not create precedent for any future requests for unpaid leave requested under this section.

9-8 Requests for extended leaves should normally be filed with the Superintendent of Schools in writing by March 1 and shall be confirmed or denied by the Superintendent in writing within thirty (30) calendar days. Requests filed after March 1 because of unusual circumstances will be considered.

9-9 During paid leaves of absence, and leaves pursuant to 9-4, 9-5, and 9-6, the School Committee will continue to pay for the health insurance coverage described in Appendix D, except that benefits for leaves under 9-4 will be limited to 12 months. The employee is still responsible for their contribution to co-insurance premiums, deductibles and co-pays as required under this Agreement and then-existing health plan. During other leaves of absence, to the extent permitted by the Carrier, a teacher will be pennitted to retain the group coverage provided by paying the entire premium thereon, monthly, to the School Committee.

9-10 Upon returning from any leaves, the teacher shall be placed in the assignment he/she left, if the assignment exists. If it does not exist, the teacher shall be returned to a similar position.