FILE:  GBRIJ

Cf:  GBRIBA

LEAVE WITHOUT PAY

The School Board hereby delegates, to the Superintendent, the authority to grant leaves of absence, without pay (general leave), for periods not exceeding one (1) year in duration, to any regularly employed teacher or other employee who requests such leave in writing, whenever in the discretion of the Superintendent such leave is in the best interest of the school system.  In no case, however, shall a general leave be granted to any employee for the purpose of (1) accepting employment outside the Iberville Parish School System or (2) pursuing training for future employment outside the Iberville Parish School System.  The granting of such leave shall not affect any tenure rights which the applicant may have acquired prior thereto.

Any employee, whose request for leave without pay is denied by the Superintendent, may appeal the decision of the Superintendent to the School Board.  In such situation, the employee’s request for an appeal must be submitted, in writing, to the Superintendent within ten (10) calendar days of the employee’s receipt of the Superintendent’s decision denying the request.  The School Board’s decision relative to the appeal shall be final.

MAINTENANCE OF GROUP AND VOLUNTARY BENEFITS

Employees on general leave (leave without pay) are considered non-active and will be offered medical coverage according to the terms listed in the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) at the end of the month in which the employee is considered non-active.  Notwithstanding, if the employee is eligible to use his/her remaining family and medical leave (policy GBRIBA, Family and Medical Leave), i.e., if the general leave is for family or medical reasons permitted by the family and medical leave policy, he/she will be considered an active employee for the remaining period of unused family and medical leave and may elect to maintain all group and voluntary benefits for the remaining period of unused family and medical leave.

Employees who are participating in voluntary supplemental coverages such as long- term disability, short term disability, vision, dental, cancer, life, etc., or other such benefits must refer to their policy of insurance or certificate for an explanation of full benefit coverages, limitations and exclusions.  Active and non-active status under voluntary supplemental coverages may significantly differ from the above health insurance eligibility requirements.  An employee’s rights to full benefits’ coverages and voluntary supplemental plan participation will likely be affected by a change in status from active to inactive.

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:1186, 17:1208, 17:1208.1

Board minutes, 1-16-07, 11-15-10, 10-9-23

Iberville Parish School Board