§ 6-17-306 - Leaves of absence. - Arkansas Statutes

6-17-306. Leaves of absence.

(a) All teachers, administrators, and noncertified personnel employed by any public school in this state who desire to take a leave of absence for the purpose of participating in military training programs or other official duties made available by the Arkansas National Guard or of the reserve branches of the armed forces and all teachers and administrators employed by a public school who desire to take a leave of absence for the purpose of participating in the civil defense and public health training programs made available by the United States Public Health Service shall be entitled to such a leave of absence for a period of fifteen (15) days, plus necessary travel time, in any fiscal year. To the extent that this leave is not used in a fiscal year, it will accumulate for use in the succeeding fiscal year until it totals fifteen (15) days at the beginning of a fiscal year.

(b) (1) Whenever any teacher, administrator, or noncertified employee is granted a leave of absence under the provisions of this section, he or she shall be entitled to his or her regular salary during the time he or she is away from his or her duties during such leave of absence.

(2) The leave of absence shall be in addition to the regular vacation time allowed the employee.

(c) (1) Teachers, administrators, and noncertified personnel called to duty in emergency situations by the Governor or by the President shall be granted leave with pay not to exceed thirty (30) working days, after which leave without pay will be granted. This leave shall be granted in addition to all other leave to which the teacher, administrator, or noncertified person shall be entitled.

(2) "Emergency situations" shall have the same meaning as it is defined in 21-4-212(e).

(d) (1) During a leave of absence, teachers, administrators, and noncertified personnel shall be entitled to preserve all seniority rights, efficiency or performance ratings, promotional status, retirement privileges, life and disability insurance benefits, and any other rights, privileges, and benefits to which they have become entitled.

(2) The period of military service shall, for purposes of computations to determine whether such persons may be entitled to retirement under the laws of the State of Arkansas, be deemed continuous service, and the teacher, administrator, or noncertified employee shall not be required to make contributions to any retirement fund.

(3) The school district shall continue to contribute its portion of any life and disability insurance premiums during the leave of absence on behalf of the teacher, administrator, or noncertified employee, if requested, so that continuous coverage may be maintained.

(e) For the purpose of this section, "fiscal year" shall be the fiscal year now established for the United States Government.

(f) Whenever any teacher, administrator, or noncertified person employed by any public school in this state is granted military leave for a period of fifteen (15) days per calendar year or fiscal year under the provisions of this section, the military leave will accumulate for use in succeeding calendar years or fiscal years until it totals fifteen (15) days at the beginning of the calendar year or fiscal year, for a maximum number of military leave days available in any one (1) calendar year or fiscal year to be thirty (30) days.