Collective Bargaining Agreement - Hopewell Valley Regional ...

ARTICLE X
SABBATICAL LEAVE
A. Any professional employee who has taught seven years in the local district is eligible to apply
for sabbatical leave.
B. The Superintendent can approve either enrollment in a graduate program and/or involvement in
a research program that requires levels of time and commitment equivalent to those of full-time
graduate study. In addition, the objectives of the sabbatical must enhance the teacher’s
professional growth and the quality of instruction in the classroom.
The Board shall provide tuition reimbursement for all approved courses taken during a
sabbatical in accordance with the reimbursement rate as defined in Article VIII, paragraph 9,
except that reimbursement shall be for as many as eighteen (18) credits per year of sabbatical.
C. A sabbatical leave shall consist of one full year at 2/3 pay, or one half year at 2/3 pay of the rate
that would normally be earned during that particular period.
D. A maximum of 5% of the eligible persons may take a sabbatical leave at any one time.
Selection will be determined by the Superintendent, subject to Board approval, considering the
needs in each department in the school and in the overall educational needs of our system in
general.
E. A sabbatical leave may be taken no more than once every seven years.
F. Before beginning a sabbatical leave, the person granted the leave shall enter into contract to
return to active service in the Hopewell Valley School System for a period of at least two years
after expiration of such leave. A teacher who does not fulfill this agreement shall repay the
Hopewell Valley Board of Education a sum equaling the amount received while on leave; unless
the teacher's failure to serve the two years is due to his/her illness or disability, or if he/she is
discharged from his/her position by the Board of Education.
G. During a sabbatical leave the professional staff member shall retain salary, tenure, and pension
rights and benefits as if in full-time employment.
H. Application for the sabbatical leave must be made in writing to the Superintendent of Schools
by February 1 in order that a leave may be granted for the succeeding academic year. By April
1, the Board of Education shall notify the applicant in writing of approval.
Any application submitted after February 1 will be considered on an individual basis and
applicants will be notified after June 1.
I. An employee upon return from a sabbatical leave shall be assigned to his/her former teaching
position, or to a position of comparable status.
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