Professional Development Leave of Absence (Long and Short Term)

9. Professional Development Leave

9.1 Long Term Leaves

9.1.1 A teacher who has been employed with the Board for a minimum of seven consecutive years may be granted a leave for professional improvement.

9.1.2(a) A teacher requesting a professional development leave must submit an application to the superintendent or designate, by January 15, for a leave commencing September 1; or by May 1, for a leave commencing January 1.

(b) The application must contain a clear statement of the teacher’s purpose for the leave, the program of study, the recognized institution at which the teacher will undertake the program of study and an explanation of how the program of study will improve the teacher’s professional service to students and the school district.

(c) The Board will consider each application on its own merit. Applications will be considered by the Board no later than the second regular Board meeting following the application deadline and the applicant will be informed of the Board’s decision.

9.1.3(a) A teacher who is granted a professional development leave shall, upon the teacher’s return from leave, be assigned a teaching position with the school district.

(b) Upon return from leave a teacher who held a position for which an administrative allowance was paid and for which the term for payment of the allowance has not yet been completed, the Board will, where possible, return the teacher to a position with an equivalent administrative designation or, the teacher shall be paid an allowance equal to the allowance that the teacher had been receiving prior to the leave. This allowance will be paid for the balance of the term of the original administrative appointment, or for three years, whichever period of time is less.

(c) If the teacher is eligible to receive an experience increment and provided the teacher has successfully completed the program undertaken while on leave, the Board will grant the teacher an experience increment in accordance with article 5.

9.1.4(a) A teacher on a full year of professional development leave will, in lieu of regular salary, receive an annual leave allowance equal to an amount which is the difference between the salary at maximum with six years of education and minimum with four years of education as stipulated in the salary schedule (grid).

(b) A teacher on professional development leave for less than a full year, will receive a prorated leave allowance based upon the number of teaching days on leave, divided by 200 teaching days, multiplied by the annual leave allowance under article 9.1.4 (a).

(c) Any professional development leave allowance will be paid in equal monthly installments with the first payment to commence on the last day of the first calendar month on leave.

9.1.5 (a) A teacher who is granted a professional development leave shall agree in writing, prior to the commencement of the leave, to serve the Board for a period of two months for each month, or portion thereof, of leave taken.

(b) Should a teacher fail to fulfill the required period of return service, the teacher shall reimburse the Board the professional development leave allowance received from the Board based upon the number of months of return service completed, divided by the number of months of return service required, multiplied by the professional development leave allowance paid.

9.2 Short Term Leaves

9.2.1 (a) In addition to any leave under clause 9.1, the Board will establish a fund to be used to finance the costs of short term professional development activities for teachers, such costs to include travel, living allowances and the cost of substitute teachers.

(b) The Board will make allocations to this fund effective September 1, 2008 of $227,338 for the 2008-2009 school year.