PATERNITY LEAVE:

Benefited employees whose spouse has given birth may request up to five (5) days of paternity leave for newborn baby care. Paternity leave can only be taken during the first four (4) weeks after the birth. All accrued personal days must be used before this paternity leave can be granted. Accrued sick leave may be saved for future needs. Costs incurred by this paternity leave will be paid by the employee through a substitute cost deduction in salary.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE:

Employees who qualify for paid leave benefits receive released time with pay for bereavement in the case of the death of a family member. 1. Employees who qualify for paid leave benefits shall be granted, for funeral and related issues, up to five (5) days absence without pay deduction in the event of the death of a spouse, parent/step-parent, or child and any other child who is being or was parented by the employee and resides or resided in the home. 2. Employees shall be granted, for funeral and related issues, up to three (3) days of absence without pay deduction in the event of the death of the employee’s spouse’s parent/step-parents or the employee’s or spouse’s grandchild, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, brotherin-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or other person residing in the employee’s home. 3. Bereavement Leave is provided only for the death of individuals listed under items 1 and 2. Employees who need to miss work because of the death of an individual not covered in this policy, or needing additional bereavement days, should refer to the other leave provisions of this policy

MATERNITY LEAVE:

Maternity Leave is to be used for the mother’s recovery and begins at the birth of the child. Paid Maternity Leave is available only for contract work days listed on the employee’s work calendar.

1. Employees who qualify for paid leave benefits, and who donated to the Sick Leave Bank that school/contract year, qualify for up to six (6) consecutive calendar weeks (30 days) of paid Maternity Leave for vaginal birth or up to eight (8) consecutive calendar weeks (40 days) of paid Maternity Leave for cesarean birth.

2. Other District leave options, both paid and unpaid, may also be used for additional leave for the mother’s recovery; i.e. Sick Leave, Personal Leave, or FMLA (non-paid leave).

3. Maternity Leave runs concurrently with FMLA.

4. To access Maternity Leave: a. Benefited employees must be a member of the Sick Leave Bank. b. A benefited employee shall repay compensation received for Maternity Leave days used if the employee terminates employment with the District for other than medical reasons before completion of the current contract year.

5. If the employee has submitted their resignation for the current contract year, the employee is ineligible for Maternity Leave.