1. Employees eligible for this program must be accepted in a District approved program leading to a degree in order to qualify for the following benefits.
2. Employees will be eligible to receive up to twelve (12) hours of paid tuition per calendar year at the State University of New York or Community College tuition rates. The maximum number of hours (graduate and/or undergraduate) paid by the District by all provisions of this contract will not exceed twelve (12) hours unless the employee is participating in a paid sabbatical leave as provided below.
3. Tuition costs will be directly paid by the District to the college/university as long as a B average is maintained by the employee for graduate work or a C for undergraduate work. If a B/C average is not maintained the employee must assume payment of tuition costs subject to reimbursement procedures under Article 25. The District will resume direct payment once a B/C average is again attained.
4. Career guidance and assistance will be provided to enrolled employees through the Instructional Division’s In-Service Department.
1. Applicants for this leave must demonstrate that the final year of preparation requires full time status as a student in residency.
2. The maximum number of employees eligible for this leave at any time shall not exceed six (6) full-time employees. If there are more applicants than paid leaves available the more senior applicants will have preference. Seniority for this purpose shall be defined as years of service within District job title.
3. The maximum number of hours paid by the District to an employee for this leave will not exceed thirty (30) hours, inclusive of District awarded vouchers.
4. Only applicants with three (3) years of continuous service in the Unit and approved by the District shall be eligible for paid sabbatical leave.
5. An employee on this leave may elect one of the following pay options:
- half pay received over the District school year (ten months)
- full pay received over one half of the District school year (five months)
- full pay (contract salary) received over a twelve month period which will include employee work assignments during college/university breaks totaling twenty (20) weeks of assignment. The twenty (20) weeks of assignment will be established by the District with employee input and shall include a minimum six (6) weeks assignment prior to the onset of this leave.
6. Fringe benefits will be available consistent with existing District policy applicable to employees on paid leaves of absence.
7. Employees who have received a sabbatical leave must work a minimum of five (5) school years for the District subsequent to the leave. If the employee is capable of, but does not wish to continue employment in the District for the five (5) year period, the employee must reimburse the District for all salary paid during the sabbatical leave. If the employee completes less than five (5) years, reimbursement due to the District will be prorated for each year of completed service. The Superintendent, at his/her sole discretion, may waive reimbursement if the employee can substantiate that compelling personal reasons, beyond the employee’s control, render the employee unable to complete this commitment.
8. If the employee receives a verified job offer from another employer and is not offered a position by the District for which they have taken this education, the employee may accept the offered position and not be responsible for salary reimbursement.