ARTICLE VIII LEAVES
OF ABSENCE
East Providence School District
Teachers should notify the Superintendent or his/her designee as soon as practical when they foresee being on leave for an extended period of time.
8.1 Bereavement Leaves
8.1.1 A teacher shall be granted leave with full pay for five (5) days for a death in the immediate family. The immediate family shall include father, mother, spouse, brother, sister, son, daughter, in-laws, grandchild and any person living in the teacher’s household. If bereavement leave occurs just prior to an extended school closing (five [5] weekdays or more) the leave shall terminate on the last day of school prior to said closing.
8.1.2 A teacher shall be granted leave with full pay for three (3) days for grandparents by blood or in-law.
8.1.3 For other relatives, by blood or in-law (uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, first cousins), the teacher shall be allowed the day or such part of that day as may be necessary to attend the funeral without loss of pay.
8.1.4 In emergency, additional days may be granted at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools.
8.1.5 The Association may send its President or his/her designee to the funeral of any member’s immediate family without loss of pay. The Principal of his/her building shall arrange coverage without the hiring of a substitute.
8.1.6 In the event of a death of a teacher, that school shall be closed for the funeral and the day will be made up. The President, or his/her designee, may be released to attend the funeral service of a retired teacher.
8.1.7 A teacher who works less than a full day will be granted the same number of days listed in the stated bereavement leaves for the number of hours he/she is regularly scheduled to work.
8.2 Quarantine
When a teacher is subject to quarantine by order of the Health Department, such person shall receive full pay during the period of quarantine, and this period of time which the person is absent from his/her duties as a result of such quarantine shall not be deducted from his/her accumulated sick leave.
8.3 Jury Duty
In all cases where teachers are called to jury duty, they shall be encouraged to serve, and the difference between their pay and their teacher’s salary shall be paid to them. This shall be accomplished by the teacher receiving full pay from the School Department and relinquishing all jury duty pay to the School Department.
8.4 Absence Without Pay
Any teacher not at the maximum accrual of sick days and who have used no more than three (3) sick days shall be compensated a bonus of $ 200.00 for year one and two and $ 250.00 for year three. If a teacher has the maximum accrual and uses less than three (3) sick days, the teacher shall receive $ 50.00 per day for up to a total of twelve (12) days unused sick days. For years two and three of this agreement that amount shall be $ 60.00 and $ 75.00 per day respectively.
8.5 Sabbatical Leave
After completion of at least six (6) years of teaching service in the City of East Providence Public Schools, a regularly employed teacher may, upon request, and approved by the Superintendent, be granted one (1) year leave of absence to pursue a full time program of advanced study at a recognized college or university at one-half (1/2) of the salary that he/she would normally receive including the current increment. A teacher with ten (10) years of service in East Providence, when granted sabbatical leave, will receive two- thirds (2/3) of the salary he/she would normally receive including the current increment. A teacher may be granted permission for one-half (1/2) year leave of absence under the same conditions at one-quarter (1/4) of his/her annual salary. Requests for sabbatical leaves shall be filed with the Superintendent no later than October 1st of the year preceding such leave. Sabbatical leaves can be approved only if the requested leave relates to advanced work being done in the discipline area of the teacher requesting said leave or in allied areas that may enhance the teacher’s educational career. For the purpose of placement on the salary schedule only this leave of absence would be considered a year or a half (1/2) year of teacher service. The teacher shall agree to return to employment in the East Providence School System for the full year following the expiration of the sabbatical leave. For this purpose a signed agreement shall be used. Life Insurance and health care coverage shall be continued for teachers on sabbatical leave. Teachers approved for a sabbatical leave will be notified by February 1st of their approval for the following school year. The President of the Association shall be relieved of all his/her non-teaching duties to take care of Association business. In addition, the President shall be provided the equivalent of two (2) full days per week at no loss in salary or benefits and the Association agrees to pay one-half (1/2) of the cost. Meaning that the School Department pays for one day and the Association pays for one day.
8.6 Legal Proceedings
In cases in which teachers are compelled, or requested by the School Department to appear before a court or grand jury to testify on behalf of the School Department in which they are neither the petitioner nor the defendant, they shall be paid the difference between the witness fee and the normal salary for the period of absence. This shall be accomplished by the teacher receiving full pay from the School Department and relinquishing all witness fees to the School Department. Teachers shall be granted a temporary leave of absence with full pay for the time necessary for such appearances in legal proceedings.
8.7 Personal Leave
8.7.1 Each member of the professional staff shall be allowed three (3) days of absence each school year for personal reasons without loss of pay.
However, the third personal day may not be used to extend a holiday, weekend, or vacation. For the third personal day, members must give 7 days’ notice to the principal.
Any unused personal days may be converted to a sick day and accrued in accordance with the sick day accrual provisions of the CBA.
Limitations on use of personal days:
1. Personal days may only be used to conduct personal affairs that cannot be conducted at any other time.
2. Personal days may not be taken three days in a row unless approved by the Superintendent of Schools.
3. Personal days cannot be used as vacation time.
4. Personal days may not be used on the day preceding or the day following a holiday or vacation period or during the last two (2) weeks of school nor shall such leave be allowed by the Superintendent of Schools if said leave were to cause school(s) to be shut down.
5. Personal day may be taken the day preceding or the day following a holiday or vacation period or during the last (2) weeks for personal business which cannot be conducted at any other time. In applying for personal leave on the day preceding or the day following a holiday or vacation period or during the last two (2) weeks of school, the teacher must state the nature of the personal business to be conducted on that day. This exception will include the right of teachers to attend the graduation of members of their immediate family. Except in the case of an emergency, the principal may deny the personal day if no substitute teachers are available.
6. Requests for use of the last (3rd personal day) will be submitted to the Principal no later than seven calendar days before the day to be taken except in the case of emergency. If denied, a member will have the ability to appeal to the Superintendent.
8.8 Military Leave
Should a teacher be called for military reserve on dates not chosen by him/her during the school year, he/she shall be granted up to two (2) weeks leave of absence. He/she shall be paid the difference between his/her teaching salary and the base military pay received by him/her for such service performed on school days, provided that the base military pay is less than the teaching pay for the days in question.
8.9 Religious Holidays
Teachers whose religious obligations require attendance at religious services held during the school day shall be granted up to two (2) days per year to attend such services. Notification must be given at least one (1) school day prior to taking this leave or pay will be deducted.
8.10 Professional Leave
Teachers, may upon approval of the Superintendent, be granted the opportunities for professional visitation, attendance at workshops, in-service courses, conferences, or other professional growth activities.
8.10.1 The School Committee agrees to establish a pool of professional leave days per school in accordance with the size of the school. Teachers shall be granted two (2) professional leave days per year for every ten (10) teachers or a portion thereof in the school of their assignment. The determination of the particular teacher(s) taking advantage of this opportunity on an equitable and rotating basis shall be made by the Association’s Building Representative and the School Principal. Professional leave shall be defined as attendance at conferences or workshops, or any other professional meetings sponsored by an affiliate of the professional organization directly related to one’s subject matter. The teacher must submit a written notice signed by both the Association’s Building Representative and the School Principal to the Director of Human Resources in advance of such leave. Except in exigent circumstances, a fourteen (14) day notice shall be given.
8.10.1a Professional Leave Fund
The School Committee agrees to establish a fund for the purposes of funding teachers for travel, registration, or other costs incurred as a result of attending professional conferences for pool days only. Said fund will be administered in a fair and impartial manner. Five hundred dollars ($500.00) per month for ten (10) months, up to fifty dollars ($50.00) per teacher will be funded by the School Committee. Monies not used in any given month may be carried over in the succeeding month. An Annual Report of said monies shall be made to the President of East Providence Education Association.
8.10.1b Procedures
1. The teacher will apply for professional leave days through the Human Resources Department. At the time of application for professional leave days, the teacher must request reimbursement. The same professional leave form should be used and continues to be available in all buildings.
2. The teacher will receive a copy, approved by the Superintendent of Schools, or his/her designee of the professional leave form from the Human Resources Office, along with instructions for the reimbursement procedures.
3. After attendance at the conference, the teacher will submit to the Business Office receipts and/or canceled checks for payment of conference fees.
4. Receipts and/or canceled checks must be in the Business Office not later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the month following the conference.
5. For each calendar month, the Business Office will establish a file for all submitted receipts.
6. Pursuant to the Contract, the monthly allocation will be divided equally among those who have completed the above process. In no case, will a teacher receive more than fifty dollars ($50.00), or more than the actual cost of the conference fees.
8.10.1c The School Committee agrees to establish a pool of eight (8) professional leave days for Association business. The determination of the particular teacher(s) taking advantage of this opportunity on an equitable and rotating basis shall be made by the Association President and the Superintendent. The teacher must submit a written notice signed by both the Association President and the School Principal to the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in advance of such leave. The Association agrees to pay for the substitute.
8.11 Adoption Leave
Members of the bargaining unit who adopt a minor child during the school year shall be granted a leave of absence in accordance with state and federal law.
8.12 Leave Without Pay
All requests for leave without pay will be applied for, and granted or denied, in writing. All leaves of absence in this section, except for those requested pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act, will be for no less and no more than one (1) year at a time when requested prior to the beginning of a school year. Leaves requested after the school year starts, except for those requested pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act will be for the remainder of the year. Starting in September 2000, seniority shall not accrue on full-year leaves without pay. Requests may be made for the following:
8.12.1 Peace Corps and Vista
Peace Corps and Vista leave will be granted, without pay, to any teacher who enlists for a period not to exceed two (2) years. Upon return from such leaves, a teacher will be placed on the salary schedule at the level he/she would have achieved had he/ she remained actively employed in the system during the period of his/her absence. Peace Corps and Vista leave is for one (1) year at a time and the teacher must renew his/her leave for the additional year.
8.12.2 Sick Leave
A leave of up to one (1) year, without pay or increment, may be granted for the purpose of caring for a sick member of the teacher’s immediate family. Granting such leave shall be in the sole discretion of the Superintendent, with input from the Union President.
A teacher who is granted a leave of absence for this purpose shall be afforded the opportunity to continue in the group health insurance plan by paying the full cost of premiums monthly, in advance, and may continue life insurance in force by paying the full cost of premiums monthly in advance.
8.12.3 Extended Personal Illness
Any teacher whose personal illness extends beyond accumulated sick leave, and after expending all other applicable leave, may be granted a leave of absence for the remainder of the year without pay or increment and such leave should be accompanied by a statement from a regularly licensed physician that such leave is necessary. Granting such leave shall be in the sole discretion of the Superintendent, with input from the Union President.
Upon request, such leave may be renewed, in the sole discretion of the Superintendent, with input from the Union President, for an additional one (1) year.
Upon return from such leave, a teacher will be assigned to the same position following one (1) year’s leave of absence. Teachers returning from leaves of absence in excess of one (1) year shall return to the same position, if available, or if not, a substantially equivalent position. A teacher shall have health insurance as defined in Article V and life insurance coverage continued while on leave.
8.12.4 Parental Leave
Parental leave is designed for teachers to care for a teacher’s child as defined in federal and state law and is not meant as a mechanism to pursue other employment. Parental leave without pay shall be granted to employees for the remainder of the year upon application to the Superintendent. Upon request, such leave may be renewed in the sole discretion of the Superintendent, with input from the Union President, for up to two (2) additional years.
Returning employees shall be restored to the position they held at the time such leave commenced, following one (1) year’s leave of absence. Teachers returning from leaves of absence in excess of one (1) year shall return to the same position if available or, if not, a substantially equivalent position, if one is available.
While on parental leave a teacher shall be afforded the opportunity to pay for their comprehensive medical coverage, as defined in Article V and group life insurance at the current group rate applicable to all other employees.
8.12.5 Extended Personal Leave
A teacher, with six (6) or more years of service in the East Providence School District, may request a leave without pay for the remainder of a school year. Granting such leave shall be in the sole discretion of the Superintendent.
Upon request, such leave may be renewed in the sole discretion of the Superintendent for up to one (1) additional year of unpaid leave. Extended personal leave may not be utilized for the purpose of obtaining or maintaining employment outside the District. Returning employees shall be restored to the position they held at the time such leave commenced, following one (1) year’s leave of absence. Teachers returning from leaves of absence in excess of one (1) year shall return to the same position if available, or if not, a substantially equivalent position.
All employees on extended personal leave shall be afforded the opportunity to pay for their comprehensive medical coverage, as defined in Article V and group life insurance at the current group rate applicable to all other employees.
8.13 Return From Leaves
All teachers on leave under this Contract shall notify the Superintendent of Schools in writing no later than March 1st that they intend to return to their position in September. Failure to do so would result in the forfeiture of their rights as outlined in the applicable section of this Contract.
8.13.1 Teachers returning from unpaid leave who notify the Superintendent of their return by March 1st will be reinstated to the Health Plan, if eligible, for the summer months. Said teachers who do not in fact return in September will be obligated to reimburse the School Department for the cost of their summer health coverage.
8.14 Other Educational Leave
Other Educational Leave taken pursuant to School Department representation may exceed the leave restrictions of this agreement with the written approval of the Superintendent. Said approval shall not be unreasonably denied and shall be applied equitably.