FILE:  GBRIJ

LEAVE WITHOUT PAY

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board may grant leaves of absence without pay for periods not exceeding one (1) year to any regularly employed teacher or other employee, who requests such leave in writing, whenever in the discretion of the School Board such leave is in the best interest of the public school system.  Leave without pay shall not be granted to pursue other employment.  The granting of such leaves shall not affect any tenure rights which the applicant may have previously acquired.

If any employee is identified and selected as a “Distinguished Educator” by the State Department of Education, such employee will be granted leave without pay for not less than two (2) years nor more than six (6) years as required by the State Department of Education.  Upon the employee’s completion of service as a “Distinguished Educator”, he/she will be returned to a position comparable to the one held at the beginning of the leave, whether or not a reduction in force is required in order to comply with La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:10.4 (D).  The term of service of the employee as a “Distinguished Educator” shall count as service time for purposes of scheduled, routine, or general compensation enhancements, retirement eligibility, retirement benefit calculation and seniority.  The term of service as a “Distinguished Educator” does not count as service time for purposes of eligibility for any sabbatical benefits, the acquisition of tenure or for the accumulation of leave.

Leave without pay, not exceeding twenty (20) consecutive days, may be authorized by the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources.  In addition, up to twelve (12) weeks of leave under the FMLA may be administratively granted by the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources upon written request, along with proper documentation.  Any longer period of time shall require approval of the School Board.  Any leave granted under this policy will run concurrently with any leave to which the employee is entitled under the FMLA. (See Policy GBRIBA, Family and Medical Leave).

Leave without pay granted by the School Board shall interrupt continuous service, and such leave shall not be included as part of the total years of service, except as described above for employees selected as “Distinguished Educator” by the State Department of Education.

The School Board may reassign an employee taking leave without pay to a teaching, administrative, or similar position within the person's area of certification or job responsibility if a vacancy occurs.  Such reassignment shall be effected in accordance with the School Board's transfer policy and procedures.

All leaves without pay granted under this policy will be without compensation and benefits, except for leave granted pursuant to FMLA (See Policy GBRIBA).

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Any leave without pay can adversely affect retirement benefits since no retirement contributions will be made by the employee or the employer.  The time spent on leave without pay may be purchased for credit in the employee's retirement system, however. Employees should contact the retirement system for procedures.

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:10.4, 17:81, 17:81.4, 17:1186

East Baton Rouge Parish School Board