Maternity and Paternity Leave. 1. A request for maternity or paternity leave shall be made to the Board at least thirty (30) days prior to the date on which the leave is to begin except in the case of an emergency. Said request shall include with such notice a physician's statement certifying pregnancy. Any educator may continue in active employment as late into pregnancy as desired provided the educator is able to properly perform required functions. All or any portion of a leave taken by an educator because of a medical disability connected with or resulting from pregnancy may, at the educator's option, be charged to available sick leave. 2. Any educator adopting an infant child shall be entitled, upon request, to a leave to commence at any time during the first year after receiving de facto custody of said infant child, or prior to receiving such custody if necessary in order to fulfill the requirements for adoption. 3. While on leave, any educator shall have the option to remain an active participant in the State Teacher's Retirement System by contributing thereto the amount said educator would have been required to contribute if actively employed. The educator shall have the option to participate in the Board's fringe benefit plan while on leave provided the educator pays the entire cost of participation. 4. The leave of absence shall become effective on the last day of formal employment and may extend to a total of twelve (12) months. Request may be submitted for an extension of this leave at the end of the first leave. 5. The Board conforms to the Family and Medical Leave Act when processing maternity and paternity leaves of absence. An employee may retain up to 10 days of his or her sick leave to use upon return from a maternity or paternity leave of absence. Such request must be made to the Human Resources Department at the time of the original leave request.
Appears in 5 contracts
Sources: Master Agreement, Master Agreement, Master Agreement