FILE: GBRIJ
Cf: GBRB
LEAVE WITHOUT PAY
The Lincoln Parish School Board may grant leave of absence, without pay, to any employee for periods of time not to exceed one (1) year. Such leave may be granted by the School Board, upon proper request in writing by the employee, whenever in the discretion of the School Board such leave is in the best interest of the school district.
Requests for leave of absence without pay shall be submitted to the Personnel Department, in writing, at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the leave, whenever possible.
The granting of such leave shall be with the intention of both the employee and the school district that the employee returns to the same position he/she left. 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 applicable procedures.
Employees shall have been employed in the district for the previous twelve (12) months prior to the beginning date of leave without pay. The 12-month period shall be the same as the fiscal year (July 1-June 30). For each day of leave without pay used, one hundred percent (100%) of a full day’s pay shall be docked from regular pay.
An employee on leave without pay shall not earn retirement credit for those days missed, nor shall an employee who is on leave without pay be eligible to accrue annual leave or sick leave during an approved leave.
Employees granted leave without pay may continue to participate in the School Board’s group health benefits program. However, while on leave without pay, the employee shall be required to pay 100% of the insurance premium. Failure to pay insurance benefit premiums in a timely manner shall result in cancellation of benefits.
The Lincoln Parish School Board does declare that leave without pay interrupts active service credit for retirement purposes.
An employee on approved leave without pay shall notify the Personnel Department at least twenty (20) working days prior to the end of the granted leave of the intention to retire or resign in lieu of returning to active employment. A fitness-for-duty certificate from the employee’s physician may be required prior to returning to active employment.
PRESIDENT OF STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION
The Superintendent shall grant a leave of absence, without pay, to any regularly employed teacher or other employee who is president of a statewide professional education organization with a membership of more than ten thousand members, during his/her term of office, not to exceed two (2) years. The granting of such leave shall not affect any tenure rights which may have been acquired prior thereto.
New policy: December 1, 2015
Revised: February 7, 2017
Revised: July 12, 2022
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:1186
Board minutes, 7-7-15, 12-1-15, 2-7-17, 7-12-22
Lincoln Parish School Board