ARTICLE XVI SABBATICAL LEAVE

North Kingstown School District

A. Recognizing that independent research, continuing studies, as well as a variety of other activities serve to improve the teacher, their teaching and the school system, the Committee agrees to institute a Sabbatical Leave Policy. This leave shall be subject to the approval of the Committee, and used for scholarly programs at accredited institutions of higher learning, for independent research, or for other endeavors that the teacher may justify and that have been approved by the Committee. This leave shall be subject to the following conditions:

1. At most, two (2) teachers may be absent on sabbatical leave at any one (1) time, and period of leave shall not exceed one (1) school year;

2. Preliminary  requests  for sabbatical  leave must be received  by the Superintendent  or designee in writing in such form as may be required by the Superintendent or designee, no later than December 31st of the year preceding the school year for which the sabbatical leave is requested. Teachers shall be notified in writing of the Committee's decision no later than April 1st;

3. The teacher has completed at least seven (7) full years of service in the North Kingstown School System;

4. Teachers may request sabbatical leave for either one-half (½) or one (1) full school year, each at half salary;

5. The teacher shall agree to return to employment in the North Kingstown School System for twice the amount of time they was on leave. Upon returning from leave, the teacher shall be placed on the step of the salary scale that would have been reached if they had not been on leave;

6. Any teacher who does not fulfill the time requirements provided herein shall return forthwith to the Committee all money paid to them or expended on their behalf (including any expenditure for fringe benefits) during the time the teacher was on leave.