FILE: GBRIC
TEMPORARY DISABILITY
A certified or non-certified employee shall be granted a leave of absence with or without pay in accordance with the provisions contained herein upon verification of temporary disability. Pregnancy is considered a temporary disability.
The employee shall be allowed to continue duties as long as the employee, employee's physician and the Superintendent conclude that duties can be performed effectively. In the event of disagreement or the employee is dissatisfied an appeal can be initiated in accordance with policy, GAE, Non-Title IX Complaints and Grievances.
It is the responsibility of the employee to submit a request for leave in writing no less than sixty (60) days before the anticipated date of the leave unless the disability is of an emergency nature.
It is the responsibility of the employee to submit a request in writing no less than thirty (30) days before the anticipated date of return.
A person granted temporary disability shall be eligible for reinstatement to the position previously held. The employee shall be assigned a position in the section or school if the employee is properly qualified or certified for the assignment. If there is no vacancy for his/her qualifications (certification) he/she shall be assigned a position elsewhere in the district for which proper qualifications (certification) are held.
Persons granted a temporary disability leave shall retain all accrued benefits.
An employee who is absent after five (5) consecutive days, must file a doctor's statement verifying capability to perform assigned duties.
No benefit shall be payable to an employee because of a disability which results from any of the following:
Intentionally self-inflicted;
Participation in any unlawful act;
Participating in a riot or civil demonstration;
Working for another employer other than this district;
Following a termination date which was determined prior to occurrence of the disability.
MATERNITY LEAVE
If the employee knows at the beginning of the semester that she will not be able to complete the semester because of pregnancy, she shall notify her principal or supervisor and the Superintendent. A conference should be scheduled with the Superintendent by all certified personnel within the first sixty (60) days of pregnancy.
An employee on maternity leave extending through the summer is eligible to be reinstated at the beginning of the next school year subsequent to the birth of the child. Verification by the attending physician that the employee is capable of performing assigned duties shall be submitted to the Superintendent prior to assuming duties.
Maternity leave may be granted for six (6) weeks. A person granted maternity leave extending beyond six (6) weeks is obligated to accept an assignment offered provided it is within certification and accreditation qualifications; otherwise, the School Board shall assume the employee to have forfeited her job rights.
Maternity leave shall be cancelled if the person on leave has not requested reinstatement within one calendar year of the date of the beginning of the maternity leave and it shall be the School Board's assumption that the employee's rights of employment shall have been vacated or the employee may be retired in consonance with applicable law.
Sick leave may be taken because of complications arising from pregnancy. Current and accumulated sick leave may be used by a teacher for maternity leave purposes.
Each employee granted maternity leave in accordance with state law who has no remaining sick leave days available may also be granted up to thirty (30) days of extended sick leave in each six-year period of employment in accordance with policy GBRIB, Sick Leave.
ADOPTIVE LEAVE
The School Board shall grant leaves of absence not to exceed thirty (30) days to regular employed teachers after the legal adoption of a child. If multiple children are adopted on the same date, the event shall be considered a single qualifying event. The granting of such leave shall not affect any of the tenure rights with the teacher may have acquired under state law.
Each employee granted adoptive leave in accordance with state law who has no remaining sick leave days available may also be granted up to thirty (30) days of extended sick leave in each six-year period of employment for personal illness related to illness of an infant, or for required medical visits certified by a physician as relating to infant health.
Adoptive leave shall not interrupt the consecutive service for sabbatical leave purposes.
An employee requesting adoptive leave shall notify the Superintendent in writing of the request in sufficient time to allow for the employment of an adequate replacement. The Superintendent shall be notified in writing of the desire to be reinstated at least thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated date of return.
Re-Adopted: August 4, 1998
Revised: December, 2018
Revised: September 5, 2023
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:1171, 17:1201, 17:1211, 23:334, 23:341, 23:342
Board minutes, 10-3-78, 8-6-91, 8-4-98, 9-5-23
East Feliciana Parish School Board