ARTICLE 15 EXTENDED LEAVES OF ABSENCE

Tiverton School District

A. The Board agrees that one (1) teacher designated by the Association will, upon request, be granted a leave of absence for up to one (1) year, without pay, for the purpose of engaging in full- time local, state or national Association activities. Upon return from such leave, a teacher will be placed on the salary schedule at the level she/he would have achieved if she/he had not been absent.

B. A leave of absence without pay of up to two (2) years will be granted to any teacher who joins the Peace Corps or VISTA and is a full-time participant in either of such programs. The teacher shall agree to return to employment in the Tiverton School System for one (1) full year. Upon return from such leave, a teacher will be placed on the salary schedule at the level she/he would have achieved if she/he had not been absent, provided, however, the participation in such a program was as a teacher.

C. Maternity/Paternity/Adoption leave may be at the option of the teacher: accumulated sick leave, of up to thirteen (13) weeks. This leave may be extended for up to one year, the remainder being unpaid. The teacher will make known the term of said leave in a timely fashion so as to allow the School Department to find a substitute. A teacher who becomes pregnant shall notify the superintendent through the principal, in writing, as soon as pregnancy has definitely been determined. If the teacher's physical condition warrants it, the teacher may terminate her employment upon one month's notification. The teacher on said leave without pay must notify the superintendent, in writing, by February l, of her/his intention to return to her/his position, if available, or if not available, to a substantially equivalent position.

D. Any teacher whose personal illness extends beyond the period compensated will be placed on leave of absence without pay for such time as is necessary for complete recovery from such illness. Upon return from such leave, a teacher will be assigned to the same position, if available, provided she/he returns within two (2) years, or if not, to a substantially equivalent position. If the teacher does not return within two (2) years, said position will be considered vacant.

E. Subject to the approval of the School Committee and the availability of a certified, qualified replacement, teachers may be granted an unpaid leave for up to one (1) year.

F. All benefits to which a teacher was entitled at the time her/his leave of absence under this Article 15 commenced, including unused sick leave, will be restored to her/him upon his return.

G. All requests for extended leaves of absence will be filed with the Superintendent in writing and shall be submitted to the School Board by the Superintendent within thirty (30) days thereafter, for action.

H. Teachers Returning From Extended Leave

A substitute teacher may be provided to a teacher returning from an extended leave of absence based on the recommendations of the building principal which shall be consistently applied and with the approval of the Superintendent of Schools.