EAU CLAIRE SCHOOLS CLASSIFIED STAFF FEDERATION

ARTICLE I - PREAMBLE

Section 1.01 - Execution Date

This Agreement is entered into this 1st day of July , 1994, by and between the employer, the Board of Education of the Eau Claire Area School District, hereinafter referred to as the Board, and the employees, the Eau Claire Schools Classified Staff Federation Local 4018, AFT-WFT, AFL-CIO, hereinafter referred to as the Union.

Section 1.02 - Intent

The intent of this Agreement is to set forth and record herein the basic and full agreement between the parties on those matters pertaining to the wages, hours and conditions of employment for support staff personnel included in this bargaining unit.

The Union and the Employer agree that the language of the Agreement shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any disputes that arise under this paragraph shall be resolved in accordance with established procedures of the American Arbitration Association or as the parties may otherwise agree.

ARTICLE II - RECOGNITION

Section 2.01 - Union Recognition

The Board recognizes the Union as the exclusive bargaining representative for all regular full-time and regular part-time clerical, data processing personnel and school aides, but excluding confidential and supervisory personnel, Head Start aides, and other restricted choice positions.

Section 2.02 - Purpose of Article

The purpose of this article is to recognize the right of the bargaining agent to represent employees in the bargaining unit in negotiations with the Board as provided in Section 111.70 Wisconsin Statutes.

Section 2.03 - Continuing Communication

Upon request of either party, representatives of the Union and Board will meet to discuss issues of mutual concern.

Section 2.04 - Scheduling Meetings

All meetings scheduled pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be scheduled by mutual agreement between the Board and Union. Employees shall not suffer loss of pay for attending any meetings with representatives of the Board during normal working hours.

ARTICLE III - UNION DUES

Section 3.01 - Use of School Facilities

The Union may distribute materials to its members via school mail and may post notices to members on bulletin boards at each work site. The Union may use school buildings for meetings, provided the Principal is notified in advance and no cost is incurred by the Board. The Union may also use school office machinery, provided school operations are not adversely affected, and the cost of materials is reimbursed to the Board. Work on Union activities shall not be done on paid time.

Section 3.02 - Dues Deduction

Union dues will be deducted from the paycheck of each employee requesting such deduction and forwarded to the Union treasurer. Method of dues deduction will be mutually determined by the Union treasurer and a designated representative of the Board.

Section 3.02(a) - Fair Share

The Union, as exclusive representative of all employees in the bargaining unit, will represent all such employees, Union members and non-union members, fairly and equally, and all employees will pay their proportionate share of the costs of the collective bargaining process and contract administration by paying the union dues required of all members of the Union. No employee shall be required to join the Union but membership in the Union shall be made available to all employees who apply, consistent with the Union Constitution and By Laws.

Section 3.03 - WFT Convention leave

Up to six (6) delegates or their representatives may attend the two-day WFT convention without loss of salary. Four additional people may attend using payroll deduction or compensatory time off.

Section 3.04 - Federation Days

The Union shall be granted a special bank of ten days each year, which may be used for the conducting of Union business by Union representatives. Notification that such time is to be used must be made to the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel by the Union President, in writing, as far in advance as possible.

ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF EDUCATION FUNCTIONS

Section 4.01 - Management Rights

The Board retains all rights of possession, care, control and management that it has by law, and retains the right to exercise these functions during the term of the collective bargaining agreement except to the precise extent such functions and rights are explicitly, clearly and unequivocally restricted by the express terms of this Agreement. These rights include, but are not limited by enumeration to, the following rights:

1. To direct all operations of the school system.

2. To establish and require observance of reasonable work rules and schedules.

3. To hire, promote, transfer, schedule and assign employees in positions with the school system.

4. To suspend, discharge and take other disciplinary action towards employees.

5. To relieve employees from their duties because of lack of work, lack of funds, or other good reason.

6. To maintain efficiency of school system operations.

7. To take necessary action to comply with state or federal laws.

8. To introduce new or improved methods or facilities.

9. To select employees, establish quality standards and evaluate employee performance.

10. To contract out for goods or services provided that staff is not reduced.

11. To determine the methods, means and personnel by which school system operations are to be conducted.

12. To take necessary action to carry out the functions of the school system in situations of emergency.

13. To determine the educational policies of the school district.

ARTICLE V - GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Section 5.01 - Definition

For the purpose of this Agreement, a grievance is defined as any dispute regarding the interpretation or application of a specific provision of this Agreement.

Section 5.02 - Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to provide an orderly method for resolving differences arising during the term of this Agreement. A determined effort shall be made to settle any such differences through the use of the grievance procedure, and there shall be no suspension of work or interference with the operations of the District.

Section 5.03 - Union Representation

The Union representative may assist in processing the grievance at any step.

Section 5.04 - Presence of Grievant

The grievant may be present at any step but shall be present when requested by management.

Section 5.05 - Determining "Days"

Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall be excluded in computing time limits under this article.

Section 5.06 - Grievance Steps

Grievances shall be processed in accordance with the following procedure:

Informal Step:

An employee may discuss a potential grievance with the employee's immediate supervisor or the administrator who has authority to affect resolution of the problem. The employee may be represented at such meetings by the Union. The scheduling of this meeting must occur within fourteen (14) working days of realization of alleged violation.

Step 1 - Immediate Supervisor:

If an employee or the Union wishes to file a formal grievance, a written statement of the grievance shall be presented to the affected employee's immediate supervisor. The immediate supervisor shall meet with the grievant's representative and forward a written response, together with supporting reasons, to the grievant and the Union within five (5) days of receipt of the written grievance.

Step 2 - Superintendent:

If dissatisfied with the response at Step 1, the grievant or the Union may submit a written statement of the grievances to the Superintendent within five (5) days of receipt of Step 1 response. The Superintendent and/or designee shall schedule a meeting with the grievant and the Union's representative within seven (7) days. The Superintendent and/or designee shall forward a written response, together with supporting reasons, to the grievant and the Union within five (5) days after the meeting.

Step 3 - Board:

If dissatisfied with the response at Step 2, the grievant or the Union may submit a written statement of grievance to the Clerk of the Board and Superintendent within ten (10) days of receipt of the Step 2 response. The Board will hold a hearing on the grievance within thirty (30) calendar days. At least five (5) days advance notice of the hearing will be given to the grievant and the Union. The Board will forward a written response, together with supporting reasons, to the grievant and Union within ten (10) days after the hearing. The written grievance shall give a statement of the alleged grievance including the facts upon which the grievance is based, the issue involved, the section(s) of the Agreement alleged to have been violated, and the relief sought.

Step 4 - Arbitration:

If dissatisfied with the response at Step 3, the Union may submit the grievance to arbitration by a member of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) or its staff. If a grievance is of an urgent nature, the Union may submit the grievance to arbitration by any person mutually selected by the parties or by a person selected by the parties alternately striking names from a list of five potential arbitrators supplied by the WERC. The cost of providing an arbitrator will be shared by the parties. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon both parties.

Section 5.07 - Consolidating Grievances

Grievances involving the same act or the same issue should be consolidated in one proceeding provided the grievances have been processed through the grievance procedure by the time the parties meet to select an impartial third party.

Section 5.08 - Scheduling of Hearing

The arbitrator shall meet with the representatives of both parties, hear evidence and give an opinion within thirty (30) days of the close of the hearing.

Section 5.09 - Authority of the Arbitrator

It is understood that the function of the arbitrator shall be to provide an opinion as to the interpretation and application of specific terms of this agreement. The arbitrator shall have no power to add to, subtract from, modify, or amend any terms of this agreement.

The arbitrator will be without power or authority to make any decision which requires the commission of an act prohibited by law or which is violative of the terms of this Agreement. The decision of the arbitrator will be final and binding on the parties.

Section 5.10 - Arbitration Expenses

The fees and expenses of the arbitrator shall be shared equally by the parties.

ARTICLE VI - EMPLOYMENT SECURITY

Section 6.01 - Probation

Every new employee will serve a five (5) month probationary period during which the fair discharge clause shall not apply. The probationary period may be extended by the Board for an additional five (5) months. The probationary period for school year employees shall be considered frozen for two (2) months during summer recess.

A probationary employee may be discharged with no right to appeal beyond Step 2 of the grievance procedure.

Section 6.02 - Trial Period

An employee who is transferred to a new position shall serve up to a forty-five (45) day trial period, during which the employee shall be returned to the previous position upon request of the employee or the Board.

Section 6.03 - Fair Discipline

Except in emergencies involving flagrant behavior, before disciplinary action is taken against any employee, the employee's immediate supervisor shall meet with the affected employee and discuss the reasons for considering discipline and the discipline being considered. The employee must be present and may be represented by the Union. The Board may suspend a non-probationary employee for cause. A lesser stand of cause shall apply to suspension than in 6.04.

Section 6.04 - Fair Discharge

No employee who has completed the probationary period may be disciplined, discharged or refused continued employment except for sufficient cause.

Comments or suggestions for improvement on supervisory reports shall not be considered discipline. Reprimands shall be considered discipline.

Section 6.05 - Continued Employment

The Board shall inform every school year employee in writing, on or about May 1 of each year, whether the employee can be reasonably assured of continued employment the following fall semester.

Section 6.06 - Layoff

If the Board deems it necessary to eliminate positions due to lack of work or lack of funds, a written, thirty (30) calendar day notice shall be given the affected employee(s).

1. The least senior employee(s) in the bargaining unit will be given written notice of layoff, according to the number of and hours of positions cut.

2. Within the next twenty (20) days, any job openings caused by retirement, resignation, newly created positions, or reasons other than leaves of absence, will be posted for all employees. This will be done before any reassignment of displaced employees occurs. Any openings created by people posting for any of the aforementioned job openings will be frozen until the reassignment of displaced persons is completed. Openings resulting from leaves of absence will also be frozen until the reassignment of displaced employees has been accomplished.

3. Reassignment of displaced employees shall be handled one at a time, based on seniority, with the most senior displaced employee having the first choice of reassignment positions. In the case of school district same-day hires, with all variables being equal, coin toss(es) will decide who gets first choice.

4. Employees displaced by job cuts may choose to:

a. Take a voluntary layoff.

b. Displace the least senior person with the same job title as long as that person has less seniority than the person being displaced. Employees may not increase their number of hours or salary level due to displacement caused by job cuts.

c. Displace the least senior employee in any layoff group who has less seniority than the displaced person provided the displaced person is bumping at the same or less salary, same or less hours, same or less calendar status; and is qualified or qualifiable within three (3) months to perform the job. An employee may not increase his or her number of hours or salary level due to displacement caused by job cuts.

d. Displaced employees will be given their reassignment choices in writing and will have up to three (3) calendar days in which to make their choice.

LAYOFF CATEGORIES

Category 1: Accounts Payable Clerk

Budget and Fiscal Assistant

Payroll and Benefit Clerk

Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Food Services Bookkeeper

Purchasing and Costing Clerk

Financial Secretary

General Services Secretary-Payroll

Category 2: Instructional Media Secretary

Pupil Services Secretary

Secondary School Secretary

Special Services Secretary

Curriculum and Instruction Secretary

Buildings and Grounds Secretary

Student Services Secretary- At Risk

Category 3: Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Clerk

Book Room/AV Clerk

Pupil Services Clerk

Central Services Secretary

Elementary Secretary

Business Office Clerk

General Services Secretary

Instructional Media Clerk

Library Assistant II

Library Assistant III

Registrar/High Schools

Secondary Clerk-Typist

Secondary Office Assistant

Special Education Clerk

Duplicating Center Operator

Category 4: Library Assistant I

Category 5: Data Entry Specialist

Programmer/ Analyst

Programmer/Operator

Systems Analyst

Category 6: General School Aide - Elementary

Special Education Aide (EEN, ED, EMR, LD)

Instructional Media Clerk

General School Aide - Secondary

Category 7: Special Education Aide (TMR, Severe-Profound)

Category 8: Parking Lot Attendant/Security Officer

Category 9: Microcomputer and Electronic Technician

Category 10: Hearing Impaired Interpreters

Category 11: Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Section 6.07 - Recall From Layoff

Within twenty-six (26) months from the first day of work missed, an employee on layoff status shall be recalled, if work is available for which he/she is qualified, in the inverse order of layoff within the group. To retain job rights, employees on layoff will accept any position offered for which they are qualified within fourteen (14) days after notification of the recall has been sent by certified mail, even though the position has less hours/lower pay. Unemployment compensation regulations would apply. No new employee will be hired for any position if a qualified employee is on layoff status.

Section 6.08 - Transfer

A qualified employee will be granted a transfer before a new employee is hired, except for positions in Group B. Every qualified employee has the right to a personal interview before a transfer is made, unless automatic transfer applies. Employees not granted transfer may request reasons for denial. In the case of school district same-day hires, with all variables being equal, coin toss(es) will decide who is granted the transfer. For the purpose of transfer, consideration is given separately by grouping in the following categories:

Group A: Food Services Bookkeeper

Payroll and Benefit Clerk

Accounts Payable Clerk

Business Office Clerk

General Services Secretary-Payroll

Group B: Microcomputer and Electronic Technician

Curriculum and Instruction Secretary

Instructional Media Secretary

Secondary School Secretary

Pupil Services Secretary

Special Services Secretary

Budget and Fiscal Assistant

Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Buildings and Grounds Secretary

Elementary Secretary

Purchasing and Costing Clerk

Student Services Secretary-At Risk

Group C: Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Clerk

Book Room/AV Clerk

Pupil Services Clerk

Central Services Secretary

Library Assistant III

Library Assistant II

General Services Secretary

Instructional Media Clerk

Secondary Clerk-Typist

Secondary Office Assistant

Special Education Clerk

Duplicating Center Operator

Group D: Library Assistant I

Group E: General School Aide - Elementary

Group F: Data Entry Specialist

Group G: Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Group H: General School Aide - Secondary

Group I: Parking Lot Attendant/Security Officer

Group J: Data Processing: Programmer/Analyst

Systems Analyst

Programmer/Operator

Group K: Special Education Aide

Group L: Registrar/High School

Group M: Financial Secretary/High School

Group N: Hearing Impaired Interpreters

1. An employee will be transferred, if a request is made, within, but not between, each of the following groups:

Group D, E, F,G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N,

The decision as to which employee is transferred, if more than one applies, will be made on the basis of seniority.

2. Transfer within Groups A or C will be granted provided the employee is qualified for the position and is the most senior qualified employee requesting transfer.

3. Transfer between Groups A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K , L, M and N, or to/from Group B to any other of the preceding groups, may be granted on the basis of qualifications and seniority.

4. A requested transfer within or to a position in Group B may be made at the discretion of the employer.

5. Employees must complete the probationary period of employment before requesting transfer.

6. Supervisors of employees requesting transfers shall not be notified of the transfer request in writing by the Personnel Office, unless the transfer is granted.

7. Seniority will be retained in any previous job title for the actual time spent in that job title, provided the employee worked in that job title, on a permanent basis, for one calendar year.

8. Any transfer granted from May 1 until the end of the school year that affects a position within a school will not take place until the end of the school year.

Section 6.09 - Program Relocation

If the program moves, the employee moves with the program. If the move requires reduction of staff in the program, the employee(s) shall follow the layoff language contained in this contract.

ARTICLE VII - CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Section 7.01 - Personnel File

No official report regarding an employee, with the exception of employment references, shall be filed by an administrator or supervisor unless the employee is sent a dated copy at the same time. The employee shall have the right to submit a written response to the report or statement. Such a response shall be attached to and filed with the report or statement in the employee's personal file.

The Board shall maintain only one personnel file for each employee and the employee will receive a copy of any material which is to be placed in the file. An employee may review the file upon request and may copy any material in the file by paying the cost of duplication.

Section 7.02 - Seniority

An employee's seniority is the period of continuous employment in the Bargaining Unit. Employment is not considered interrupted by school recess. An employee does not accrue seniority while on a leave of absence except as specifically agreed elsewhere in this agreement. The Board will provide a seniority list to the Union President annually and inform the Union President of any changes in the list when the changes occur. Employees, where hiring choices are restricted, such as Head Start shall not accrue seniority. If employment continues beyond the period of restricted hiring choice, the seniority shall revert back to the first day of work.

An employee's seniority shall be based on the employee's date of hire. Adjustments will be made for any leave of absence during which no seniority is accrued.

Section 7.03 - Reclassification

Requests for job reclassification for individuals or groups will be considered on the October 1 preceding the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.

Reclassification requests may be introduced through Union recommendation, through management recommendation, or by the individual or individuals requesting reclassification.

Consideration of reclassification requests will be by joint committee with equal representation of union and management. If the committee reaches agreement on the reclassification proposal the agreement will be submitted to the Board of Education for approval. If the joint committee is unable to reach agreement on reclassification by February 1 of the same school year in which the request was made or if the Board of Education does not accept the reclassification proposal, the issue will be submitted to interest arbitration. The February 1 date may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties.

Reclassification of individuals or groups of employees can only take place during the school year preceding the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, with the implementation of reclassification occurring the following July 1. The cost of reclassification will be included in the calculating of the cost of the successor agreement.

Employees who are reclassified shall be placed on the lowest step which assures a salary increase.

Section 7.04 - Posting Vacancies

All vacancies, whether caused by a discontinuation of employment or creation of a new position, shall be posted for seven (7) calendar days at all active work sites before outside applicants are considered. Employees who sign up at the Personnel Office and leave self-addressed, stamped envelopes will be sent summer postings.

Section 7.05 - Posting - Change in Classification

No change in the classification of an open position will be made without the agreement of the Union. If agreement cannot be reached the position will be posted at the classification level as determined by the employer and the position in question will be referred to the reclassification committee to be resolved. In the event the position classification is different than the one posted, the position will be reposted.

Section 7.06 - Posting Expanded Hours

If a part time (less than seven (7) hours per day) job which was formerly full time (seven (7) hours or more per day) is re-expanded to seven (7) or eight (8) hours per day, it will be posted unless the person in the position worked in the position at the time it was reduced.

Positions will be posted if increased permanently two (2) or more hours during any twelve (12) month period.

Section 7.07 - Posting Leaves of Absence

Vacancies caused by a leave of absence shall be posted as temporary. New employees hired to fill a temporary position will accrue no seniority rights. If the temporary position is filled by the transfer of an employee, the job left open by the transfer will not be posted but will be filled by a substitute for the duration of the leave. The substitute shall accrue no seniority rights. At the termination of the leave of absence the two (2) permanent employees will return to the positions held prior to the leave. Employees transferred on a temporary basis shall be paid according to Section 9.03 of the contract.

If an employee does not return to his/her position at the termination of a leave of absence:

1. The permanent employee who was transferred to the temporary position will stay in the position permanently.

2. The job which was filled by a substitute will be posted as a permanent position.

Section 7.08 - Postings - Temporary Positions

A temporary job is defined as:

1. Filling in for an employee on leave of absence. (See Section 7.07 - Posting Leaves of Absence.)

2. A position necessitated by increased or decreased enrollments and lasting no longer than one calendar year. If it becomes necessary to extend a temporary position beyond one calendar year, that position will be posted as permanent.

3. Seasonal and occasional work created by department overloads. This temporary, part-time work shall be offered to existing part-time employees and employees on layoff who shall be paid at their current rate.

Under no circumstances will temporary help be used to displace current employees or cause current employees to suffer a cut in hours.

Section 7.09 - Postings - Temporary Additional Work

Temporary part-time work shall be offered existing part-time employees who shall be paid at their current rate. A temporary job, under this section only, is defined as lasting no longer than 9 weeks.

Section 7.10 - Posting Re-established Position

If an eliminated position is re-established within a two (2) year period, the employee formerly holding that position will have priority for transfer over all other employees.

Section 7.11 - Additional Training

Should an employee need additional training beyond that originally required for the position, the Board will provide it.

Section 7.12 - Inservice

The Union and the Board will establish a joint inservice committee, consisting of an equal number of persons appointed by the Union and the Board, which shall plan all inservices conducted for members of the bargaining unit.

Said inservices shall include:

1. District-wide support staff/administration inservice on contract, policy and procedural changes, to be held at the beginning of each school year.

2. Each support staff member will receive opportunity to attend at least one additional inservice training per year.

Section 7.13 - School Closure for Inclement Weather

The first two days that the school district is closed for inclement weather will be paid days for the support staff and they need not report to work. If school is closed more than two days because of inclement weather, support staff are required to work the makeup days. If unable to get to work, they may take vacation, or will be granted emergency leave. If unable to get to work on time, employees will not suffer any loss of pay or be required to make up the time they are late. If schools are closed early due to inclement weather, support staff employees may go home early with no loss of pay.

Support staff absence due to being excused for inclement weather will be categorized as such unless an employee is absent the day before and the day after the cancelled date. If an employee is absent the day before and the day after the cancelled school day, the employee will be charged for the absence for the same reason as the other absences.

Section 7.14 - Facility Closure

In the event a facility is closed for any reason other than inclement weather and the employee is not notified and reports for work, a minimum of two (2) hours will be paid if the day is to be made up. If an employee is told not to work and the day is not made up, the employee will be paid for that day. If the day is to be made up, the employee will not be paid for the day missed.

Section 7.15 - Retaining Seniority

The seniority of an employee who was previously employed by the Board in a confidential position which excluded them from the bargaining unit shall be considered for the total length of continuous employment upon the application for the bargaining unit position. An opening must exist.

Section 7.16 - Duty-Free Lunch

Each employee shall receive a duty-free lunch period of at least thirty (30) minutes per day and no more than sixty (60) minutes, unless there is mutual agreement to extend the lunch time. There will be a fifteen (15) minute break for every morning and/or afternoon worked.

Section 7.17 - Hours of Work

In the event that it becomes necessary to reduce hours of employment, the reduction will be based on the following criteria:

1. Lack of work due to a drop in enrollment.

2. Lack of work due to changes in administrative structure and/or changes in district programs.

3. Lack of funds.

Reduction in hours will be made in the following manner:

1. Hours may be reduced by cutting an eight (8) hour position to either seven (7) hours or six (6) hours or by cutting a seven (7) hour position to six (6) hours.

2. An employee whose hours are cut may remain in the cut position or have the right to bump according to layoff language.

3. Whenever possible, positions, rather than hours, will be cut and layoff language implemented. A period of one calendar year must elapse before a cut position may be re-established at fewer hours as a permanent position.

4. Upon any reduction in hours, all employees working six (6) hours or more will receive full paid benefits, rather than pro-rated benefits.

Section 7.18 - Dispensing Medication

In regard to administering medication to students, the Board of Education agrees to establish and follow procedures that comply with WI SS 118.29 and District Rules and Regulations 5143.1-5143.4.

ARTICLE VIII - APPROVED ABSENCES

Section 8.01 - Sick Leave

All employees on a regular monthly or yearly basis shall be granted a total of twelve (12) days of sick leave at full compensation for each full fiscal year of the terms of their employment, which sick leave shall apply to absence resulting from personal illness or disability, personal accident outside of regular employment, quarantine due to communicable disease. Part-time regular employees shall have their sick leave prorated, based on the percentage of time worked compared to full time. Such sick leave benefits shall cease upon termination of employment and shall apply only for absence due to actual illness or quarantine. Employees on leave of absence or layoff shall retain unused sick leave.

Employees exhausting their sick leave accumulation shall be granted thirty (30) additional days at their classified rate minus the cost of the schedule pay of a substitute.

In case of injuries on the job to employees covered by employer's compensation insurance, the Board will pay to the employee the difference between the employee's wages and the insurance payments, and such payments by the Board of Education shall be limited to the extent of accumulated sick leave. Compensation checks are made out to, and endorsed by, the Board of Education. A payroll deduction is made for the amount of the compensation check, with no tax paid.

It is provided that such sick leave shall be cumulative but shall not, in any event, exceed a total of one hundred twenty (120) days.

The Board of Education will continue the policy of annually advising all employees as to the number of days of their accumulated sick leave.

Section 8.02 - Emergency leave

Any employee may be granted emergency leave by the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel. The employee may cover the absence by one of the following:

1. Compensatory time (within the work week if 40 hours).

2. Paid vacation.

3. Payroll deduction.

All emergency leave must be documented and sent to the Payroll Department.

Section 8.03 - Bereavement Leave

Upon prior approval, up to three (3) days of bereavement leave may be given an employee who is absent because of death in the immediate family. Immediate family shall include the employee's mother, father, step-mother, step-father, sister, brother, husband, wife or child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, aunt, uncle, grandparent, and spouse's grandparent. Bereavement leave shall not be deducted from sick leave.

Section 8.04 - Child Rearing Leave of Absence

An unpaid leave of absence of up to thirteen (13) months shall be granted upon request for the purpose of bearing/caring of a new-born or an adopted child. The request shall be made thirty (30) days in advance by the employee, if possible. The leave of absence shall begin at the option of the employee, and may begin prior to the birth or adoption.

Upon expiration of the leave, the employee shall return to the position held prior to the leave.

An employee on child rearing leave may continue insurance benefits by paying the cost of the premium(s). An employee on child rearing leave shall not accrue seniority.

Section 8.05 - Jury Duty

Jury duty will be an absence with pay. Pay received from jury duty within the employee's normal working hours must be turned over to the Board of Education. This clause shall not result in the employee receiving less than the amount of jury duty pay.

Section 8.06 - Government or Professional Leave

An employee may be granted a leave of absence for elected or appointed service with the government or with a school employee organization. A school employee organization is defined as a membership organization, local, state or national, in which employees of the school system are members. Such leave shall be without pay and may be renewable annually, for two (2) consecutive years, upon written request of the employee.

Section 8.07 - Other Leaves of Absence

The Board may grant a leave of absence of up to one year for reasons other than those stated under other