SECTION B - PROFESSIONAL ABSENCES

Absence for professional reasons requested in writing and approved by the Superintendent will not entail loss of salary, except that if a Teacher is absent for professional reasons and receives compensation for participation in a professional undertaking, that Teacher will reimburse the Board for the amount of compensation equal to the salary received (but not exceeding the payment made to the substitute Teacher). There will be no reimbursement to the Board where only an honorarium is received. Whenever reimbursements are required under this clause, written notice thereof shall be given by the Superintendent.

SECTION C - PERSONAL LEAVE

Each Teacher shall be entitled to four (4) days of personal business leave without loss of pay for essential matters which cannot be handled during non-school days or hours. Proration of personal business leave shall occur for less than full time teachers. Such leave shall accumulate to a maximum of five (5) days. Written application containing the Department Administrator’s signature for such leave shall be made to the Principal at least two (2) Teacher employment days prior to the desired onset of such leave, provided that, in an emergency, such application may be made at a later time with an explanation of such emergency. Such leave shall not be granted during the first five (5) or the last five (5) Teacher employment days or on the Teacher employment day immediately preceding or following a school vacation, holiday or recess period, except in the case of an emergency or other non-discretionary, extenuating circumstance approved by the Principal. This restriction shall not apply to recognized religious holidays. Personal business leave for a proper purpose shall not be denied arbitrarily but shall not be available during a work stoppage of any kind. Unused personal leave at the end of the school term shall be added to accumulated sick leave to the maximum provided in the preceding section.

SECTION D - LEAVE FOR JURY DUTY

Any Teacher called to serve on a jury shall receive the difference between his/her contractual pay and the amount he/she receives for jury duty exclusive of travel expense.

SECTION E - LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Tenured Teachers may be granted a leave of absence without pay for sufficient reasons upon recommendation of the Superintendent and approval by the Board of Education. Except in an emergency, each request for such leave must be made in writing to the Superintendent before the middle of the semester preceding the semester in which the leave is to be taken. Normally, such leaves do not exceed one (1) year. Requests for an additional period of time may be made by the Teacher before January 15th. Such requests should be directed to the Superintendent. The granting or withholding of any leave of absence shall be at the sole discretion of the Board. Teachers on a leave of absence (pursuant to Sections E, F, or G) may continue to participate in the District's health insurance program at their own expense except as otherwise provided by law.