Section 1: Leaves
A.  Sick Leave

1.  A teacher shall be entitled to one and one half (1-1/2) days sick leave for each month of employment (15 days per year).  The maximum accumulation of sick leave shall be one hundred eighty (180) days.

2. New teachers and teachers who have exhausted their sick leave shall be advanced sick leave days which can be earned during the remainder of the school year. Unearned sick leave days will result in loss of pay at the end of the school year.

3.  Sick leave may be used for the following purposes:

a.  personal illness-including pregnancy-related illness;
b.  personal injury;
c.  illness or injury in the teacher's immediate family.  For purpose of definition, immediate family refers to the members of the teacher's household or close relationship. Close relationship would be detailed, by the teacher, in his/her request to the principal/director for the sick day leave.
d.  If a teacher foresees an extended number of sick days needed, the teacher will provide information that will allow for the development of a plan to minimize interruption of normal instruction.

4.  When a teacher has been absent for ten (10) consecutive days, he/she will be required to submit verification of illness from a licensed physician.

5.  A teacher who transfers from another Diocese of Youngstown school shall be credited with the unused balance of his/her sick leave days from that school.

6.  A record of accumulated sick leave days shall be given to the teacher at the beginning of each school year.

1.  A teacher shall be granted, without salary deduction, not more than two (2) days in any one school year for professional leave  which includes visits to other schools or to attend local, state or national meetings or other bona fide clinics involving extracurricular activites or conferences of a professional nature. Such professional leave requests may be denied by the principal/director if the teacher's absence will disrupt the continuity of instruction or if the principal/director deems the leave unprofessional. Such refusal, by the principal/di rector, shall be submitted, with reason(s) cited in writing, to the teacher.

2.  Requests for professional leave must be made, in writing, to the principal/director at least seven (7) days before the leave.

3.  The teacher shall submit written documentation to verify attendance at the professional inservice or school.

4. Professional leave days will not be deducted form accumulated sick leave days.

5. Professional leave days do not accrue.

1.  A teacher may be absent for personal reasons, without salary deduction, not more than three (3) days in any one school year. The leave shall be granted, upon written request to the principal/director, at least two (2) days prior to the leave except in the case where prior notice is not possible.

2.  Personal days shall not be granted prior to October 1 or after May 1, on work days preceding or following a holiday or vacation, or on a scheduled inservice day unless approved by the building principal/director. The principal/director may grant exceptions to this provision provided the teacher shares the reason for the request with the building principal/director.

3.  Personal leave days will not be deducted from accumulated sick leave days.

4.  All unused personal days shall be credited to the teacher's sick leave account for the purpose of buy-back only. If the total of unused personal and sick days exceeds one hundred eighty (180) days at the end of the school year, those days in excess of one hundred eighty (180) days will be bought back at a rate determined by the local negotiating process, payable no later than June 30 of the current fiscal year. This became effective with the 1989-90 school year.

5.  Personal leave days do not accrue for use. Personal days accrue for buy back only.

1.  A teacher shall be granted a maximum of eight (8) days per year to be used in case of a death or critical illness in the immediate family or close relationship.

2.  When a teacher requests to have the absence counted as a critical illness day, he/she is to inform the principal/director, in wiritng, as soon as possible, including the nature of the illness. The principal/director reserves the right to require a statement from the attending physician verifying the nature of the critical illness. If, after investigation by the principal/director, it is determined that the illness was not of a critical nature, the day(s) off will be charged against the teacher's sick leave.

3.  Funeral and critical illness leave days will not be deducted from accumulated sick leave days.

4. Funeral and critical illness leave days do not accrue.

5.  Upon request of the teacher and approval of the principal/director, additional leave days may be granted without deduction from sick leave.

1.  A teacher shall be entitled to two (2) days paternity leave to be used for the following reasons:

a.  to take his wife to the hospital;
b.  to take his wife home from the hospital; or
c.  to stay with his wife in the event of complications.

1.  A teacher shall be entitled to court or jury duty leave when he/she is served with a subpoena for court testimony or jury duty.

2.  The teacher will be paid the difference between his/her daily salary and the daily amount received from the court.

3.  Court duty days will not be deducted from accumulated sick leave days.

1.  A teacher who exhausts sick leave may, upon request, be granted an unpaid leave of absence for the remainder of the current school year. Upon request of the teacher and approval of the superintendent, unpaid leave shall be extended for one (1) more school year.

2.  Request for an extended illness leave must be made, in writing, to the principal/director and superintendent of schools and shall state the length of the leave, if possible, and must be accompanied by a statement from a licensed physician indicating the medical reason for the leave.

3.  Upon return from such leave, the teacher shall return to the same position or a comparable position.

1.  A teacher shall be entitled to a maternity/child-care leave of absence. The maternity/child-care leave is an unpaid leave. A childcare leave may be taken by either parent.

2.  The teacher shall make the request for maternity/child-care leave, in writing, to the principal/director and the superintendent. The letter must include the expected date of delivery and the date on which the leave is to begin.

3.  The teacher may use sick leave days while on maternity leave upon written verification by the attending physician of the teacher's disability by reason of pregnancy or pregnancy-related illness specifying the number of days of such disability.

4.  The leave may extend to the child's first birthday, but may be terminated earlier at the request of the teacher. The teacher must notify the principal/director at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the date of return.

5.  If the leave extends into the summer preceding the school year in which the teacher plans to return, he/she must notify the principal/director, in writing, by April 10, of his/her intent to return to teaching.

6.  When the date of return substantially interferes with the continuity of instruction, the principal/director or superintendent may adjust the date to a more suitable time. The teacher will be notified, in writing, of the adjustment.

7.  When the return is during the next school year, the teacher will advance one step on the salary scale if the teacher has worked a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) days during the previous school year.

8.  Upon return from leave, the teacher shall return to the same position or a comparable position.

1.  A teacher who has adopted a child shall be entitled to an adoptive leave. The adoptive leave is an unpaid leave.

2.  The teacher shall make the request for adoptive leave, in writing, to the principal/director and superintendent. The letter must include the date of adoption and the date the leave is to begin.

3. The leave may be for one (1) year from the date of the adoption but may be terminated earlier at the request of the teacher. The teacher must notify the principal/director, in writing, at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of return.

4.  When the return is during the next school year, the teacher will advance one step on the salary scale if he/she has worked a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) days during the preceding school year.

5.  Upon return from leave, the teacher shall return to the same position or a comparable position.

1.  A teacher shall be eligible for sabbatical leave after five (5) years of service in the school. The purpose of sabbatical leave is professional growth through a university program.

2.  Application for sabbatical leave must be made by April 1. The leave will be for one (1) year and must be concurrent with the school year. The teacher must submit, to the superintendent, a written plan for professional growth which constitutes a full-time program as defined by the university of attendance. Finalization of the leave arrangements must be completed by June.

3.  The difference in salary between a replacement teacher's salary and the regular teacher's salary shall be paid to the teacher on sabbatical leave. The teacher shall be paid according to a payment plan mutually agreed to by the teacher and the pastor.

4.  The teacher must agree to return to the school for a minimum of one (1) year after his/her leave or refund the money paid to him/her by the parish while on leave.

5.  The teacher will accrue a year's experience for salary and seniority purposes.

6.  Upon return to the school, the teacher shall return to the same position or a comparable position.

7.  No more than one (1) teacher per school may be granted a sabbatical leave for any one school year.

1.  A teacher shall be eligible for leave of absence after five (5) years of service in the school. Leave of absence is an unpaid leave.

2.  Application for leave of absence must be made by April 1. The leave will be for one (1) year and must be concurrent with the school year. The teacher must submit that intention, in writing, to the superintendent.  Finalization of the leave arrangements must be completed by June.

3.  While on leave, the teacher shall notify the principal/director, by April 10, of his/her intention to return to teaching. Upon return, the teacher will return to the same position or a comparable position.

4.  The teacher will not receive a year's credit for salary or seniority purposes.

5.  In case of emergency, an unpaid leave of absence may be granted that does not comply with the dates stated in this section.

A teacher shall be eligible for a public, religious or charitable service leave (exclusive of public school education) after five (5) years of service in the school. The purpose of this leave is to provide a public or religious service to a group or community. This leave is unpaid.

Application for this leave must be made by April 1. The leave will be for one (1) or two (2) years and must be concurrent with the school year.  The teacher must submit, in writing to the pastor, principal/director and superintendent, a plan for the community or religious service.  Finalization of the leave arrangements must be completed by June 1.

The teacher shall notify the principal/director of his/her intention to return to teaching by April 10. Upon return, the teacher will return to the same position or a comparable position. The teacher will not receive credit for salary nor seniority purposes. No more than one (1) teacher per school may be granted a public, religious or charitable service leave.

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 may not be applicable to the Diocese of Youngstown. The Diocese of Youngstown agrees, for the purpose of these policies and during their term, to abide by the provision contained therein.

If it is discovered, by the Office of Catholic Schools, that any provisions contained with this contract are in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, then in that event such provisions or policy shall be amended.

Appendix A is a notice to teachers of their rights and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

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