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EASTON AREA
SCHOOL DISTRICT
No. 438.1
SECTION:
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES
TITLE:
COMPENSATED
PROFESSIONAL LEAVES
ADOPTED:
March 5, 2007
REVISED:
438.1. COMPENSATED PROFESSIONAL LEAVES
1.
Purpose
This policy shall establish the district's parameters for granting professional
development and classroom occupational exchange leaves for eligible professional
employees.
2.
Definitions
SC 1166.1
Professional development leave - shall be defined as a leave of absence granted for
the purpose of improving professional competency or obtaining a professional
certificate or commission. Such leave shall be directly related to an employee's
professional responsibilities, as determined by the Board, and be restricted to
activities required by state regulation or law, or completed to improve professional
competency.
SC 522.2
Classroom occupational exchange leave - shall be defined as a leave of absence
granted for the purpose of acquiring practical work experience in business, industry
or government.
3.
Authority
SC 1166.1, 1171
The Board shall have sole authority to adopt and enforce policy establishing the
conditions for approval of a professional development leave. All requests for such
leave shall be subject to review by the Board.
SC 522.2
The Board may grant a leave to eligible employees for classroom occupational
exchange leave for the specified purpose.
4.
Guidelines
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAVE
Eligibility
SC 1166
To be eligible for professional development leave, an employee shall have
completed ten (10) years of satisfactory service in the public schools of the
Commonwealth; at least five (5) consecutive years of such service shall be in this
school district.
438.1. COMPENSATED PROFESSIONAL LEAVES - Pg. 2
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SC 1166
A leave for professional development may be taken for a half or full school term or
for two (2) half school terms during a period of two (2) years, at the employee's
option.
SC 1167
The total number of professional employees on such leaves of absence shall not
exceed ten percent (10%) of the number of eligible employees.
Application/Documentation
SC 1166.1
Requests for professional development leave shall be directly related to the
employee's professional responsibilities as determined by the Board, and shall be
restricted to activities required by regulations of the State Board of Education and by
the laws of this Commonwealth for a professional certificate or commission or to
improve professional competency.
Requests must be presented in writing to the Superintendent. Requests must state a
specific reason for the leave and must be filed with the Superintendent at least sixty
(60) days prior to the date when leave is to become effective. Requests received in
less than sixty (60) days may be entertained at the discretion of the Board.
SC 1166.1
A detailed plan describing the professional development activities to be undertaken
must be submitted on the appropriate form with the request. The detailed plan must
cite specifically how the leave shall improve the employee's professional
competency and shall provide sufficient information to permit the Board to
adequately evaluate the request.
SC 1166.1, 1171
The plan must list specific courses and/or activities to be completed during the leave.
The Board shall have the authority to approve or reject the plan. The approved
written plan may be modified with prior written approval of the Superintendent.
Requests for professional development leave, submitted for Board action, shall
include a recommendation from the Superintendent, subject to the Board's authority
to approve or reject the plan.
No leave for professional development shall be granted except by majority approval
of the Board.
A professional employee who is granted a leave for professional development must
sign a contract prepared by the Board.
438.1. COMPENSATED PROFESSIONAL LEAVES - Pg. 3
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The Board may at any time require additional information from the employee in
order to assist the Board in evaluating the request and the leave's benefits to and
impact on the employee and the school district.
SC 1166.1
The minimum requirements for leave for a half school term shall consist of any one
or combination of the following:
1.
Nine (9) graduate credits.
2.
Twelve (12) undergraduate credits.
3.
One hundred eighty (180) hours of professional development activities.
The minimum requirements for leave for a full school term shall consist of any one
or combination of the following:
1.
Eighteen (18) graduate credits.
2.
Twenty-four (24) undergraduate credits.
3.
Three hundred sixty (360) hours of professional development activities.
SC 1166.1
Applicants who propose to take graduate or undergraduate credits shall submit
notification of acceptance and enrollment from an accredited institution of higher
learning for study in courses approved by the Superintendent. Upon completion of
the leave, the employee shall provide to the Superintendent satisfactory evidence
that the development plan was fully complied with during the leave. Said evidence
may include course transcripts reflecting no lower than a "B" grade, letters from
administrators verifying professional development activities, admission tickets and
other documentation in support thereof. Failure to receive passing grades or to
submit required transcripts on time shall result in forfeiture of monies paid by the
district.
Official transcripts of courses completed during the professional development must
be presented to the Superintendent before the employee is returned to his/her
position.
Applicants who propose to undertake professional development activities shall
submit to the Board a detailed plan listing the specific activities. Upon return from
professional development leave, the employee shall submit to the Superintendent a
formal report describing the educational activities pursued and their benefits and
relevancy. Failure to submit required reports on time shall result in forfeiture of
monies paid by the district.
438.1. COMPENSATED PROFESSIONAL LEAVES - Pg. 4
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Commitment Of Employee
SC 1166.1, 1168
No leave for professional development shall be granted unless the employee agrees
to return to his/her employment with the district for a period of not less than one (1)
school term immediately following the leave. The Board may not waive the
requirement that the employee return to district service for one (1) full school term,
unless prevented by illness or disability.
If the employee fails to return to his/her position, unless prevented by illness or
physical disability, the employee shall forfeit all salary and benefits to which the
employee would have been entitled under the provisions of this policy for the period
of the absence for professional development.
Commitment Of Employer
SC 1168
At the expiration of the professional development leave, the employee shall, unless
agreed otherwise, be reinstated in the same position held at the time of the granting
of the leave. Employees shall return to their position only at the beginning of a
semester unless with specific approval of the Board.
SC 522.1, 1170
Time on professional development leave shall be counted as time on the job for
purposes of seniority, where applicable in the district, and for retirement fund
purposes but for no other purpose.
Compensation
SC 1169
During the period of professional development leave, an employee shall be
compensated at least one-half the salary to which s/he would have been entitled had
the employee not taken leave.
Any employee on professional development leave shall be eligible for increments
and credit for service during the leave, including district-paid fringe benefits, but
only to the limit permitted by any agreement between the district and individual
insurance carrier.
A leave of absence granted for professional development shall also serve as a leave
of absence without pay from all other school activities.
An employee on professional development leave shall not accept compensable
employment, during the period of leave, except with specific approval of the Board.
438.1. COMPENSATED PROFESSIONAL LEAVES - Pg. 5
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CLASSROOM OCCUPATIONAL EXCHANGE LEAVE
Application/Documentaion
Application for classroom occupational exchange leave shall be presented in writing
on the appropriate form to the Superintendent no later than sixty (60) days prior to
the commencement date of the leave.
A letter verifying the exchange from the business, industry or government shall be
submitted along with the application.
SC 522.2, 1166.1
Upon return from such leave, the employee shall submit to the Board a final report
detailing the work experience and its benefits.
Commitment Of Employee
SC 1168
No classroom occupational exchange leave shall be granted unless the employee
agrees to return to his/her employment with the district for a period of not less than
one (1) school term immediately following the leave, unless prevented by illness or
physical disability.
The Board may not waive the requirement that the employee return to district service
for one (1) full school term, unless prevented by illness or disability.
Commitment Of Employer
SC 1168
At the expiration of the classroom occupational exchange leave, the employee shall,
unless agreed otherwise, be reinstated in the same position held at the time of the
granting of the leave. Employees shall return to their position only at the beginning
of a semester unless with specific approval of the Board.
SC 522.2
Time on classroom occupational exchange leave shall be counted as time on the job
for purposes of seniority, where applicable in the district, and for retirement fund
purposes but for no other purpose.
Compensation
Employees on classroom occupational exchange leave shall be considered in full-
time daily attendance in the position from which the leave was granted, during the
period of said leave, for the purpose of determining the employee's length of service,
the right to receive increments as provided by law, and the right to make
contributions as a member of the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund and
continue membership therein.
438.1. COMPENSATED PROFESSIONAL LEAVES - Pg. 6
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SC 522.2
The business, industry or government to whom the employee is assigned during the
leave shall fully compensate the school district for all salary, wages, pension and
retirement contributions, and other benefits as if the employee were in full-time
active service.
School Code
522.1, 522.2, 1166,
1166.1, 1168, 1170