FILE: GBRIC
MATERNITY AND ADOPTIVE LEAVE
MATERNITY LEAVE
The Rapides Parish School Board shall grant to regular employees leave without pay for maternity purposes for a reasonable period of time before and after the birth of a child. Reasonable period of time means that period during which the female employee is disabled on account of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Regular employed, for purposes of this policy, shall mean teachers serving under contract (not to include substitute teachers or teachers replacing others on leave) and other female employees who are employed by the School Board on a regular basis. Such leave shall be granted upon proper application to the School Board for maternity leave.
Employees may be permitted to use current and accumulated sick leave days in lieu of maternity leave upon proper request. The period of disability for which sick leave may be used shall be determined by the employee’s physician, in conjunction with the employee and appropriate school personnel, and submitted to the School Board in writing.
Employees granted maternity leave shall also be subject to all regulations affecting such leave. After the period of disability, the employee shall be responsible for submitting a medical statement certifying that the employee is able to return to work.
Maternity leave for the period of disability occasioned by pregnancy and/or childbirth shall not interrupt the consecutive service for sabbatical leave purposes. Once maternity leave extends beyond the period of disability, however, such period of leave shall be considered an interruption of the accrual of consecutive semesters for sabbatical leave eligibility.
The following criteria should be considered when a maternity leave is being taken:
Maternity leave shall begin on the date requested by the employee and recommended by the physician.
An employee shall be eligible for re-employment to the position she left when she submits written notice from her physician that she is physically fit for full-time employment, and when she can give full assurance that cares for the child will cause a minimal interference with job responsibilities. A teacher is guaranteed the position she held prior to being granted leave unless the position is eliminated.
An employee who takes maternity leave will keep her accumulated days intact when returning to her position. However, an employee who chooses to use her accumulated sick leave for maternity purposes shall have her accumulated sick leave reduced by the number of days used.
Maternity leave is leave without pay.
The maximum duration of maternity leave at any one time shall be two (2) calendar years for all employees. If no request for reinstatement has been received during the two (2) calendar years from the beginning date of leave, the employee’s right to reinstatement shall have been forfeited and the employee terminated.
APPLICATION
A pregnant employee may remain on the job as long as she is performing her duties competently as determined by her immediate supervisor. The employee shall fill out a Maternity Leave Request form, giving as much as advance notice as possible, but in no case less than sixty (60) days prior to the beginning date of leave, except in emergency situations. The form must be accompanied by a statement from a physician verifying the state of pregnancy and expected dates of disability due to pregnancy. Such certificate shall follow the same standards as for submission of certificates for sick leave as found under Certification of Absence in policy GBRIB, Sick Leave. Failure to comply with the notice and other requirements of this policy may be considered willful neglect of duty and my result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
ADOPTIVE LEAVE
The School Board shall grant leaves of absence not to exceed thirty (30) days to regular employed employees 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 tenure rights which an employee 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 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.
Revised: December 1, 2020
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:1171, 17:1211, 23:334, 23:341, 23:342
Board minutes, 3-7-06, 12-1-20
Rapides Parish School Board