1-17. Leaves of Absence for Union Business or Elected Public Office

1-17.1. Number and Length of Leaves. 

The BOARD shall grant forty-five fifty appointed teachers, clinicians, or PSRPs elected or appointed to full-time positions with the UNION, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the American Federation of Teachers or the Chicago Federation of Labor–Industrial Union Council, or elected to municipal, county, state, or federal office, leaves of absence without pay in increments of twelve calendar months for the purpose of accepting these positions upon appropriate application by the UNION or in the case of elected office upon appropriate application by the employee. The BOARD shall extend those leaves in increments of twelve calendar months.

1-17.2. Health Care and Dental Benefits During Leaves. 

Bargaining unit employees who are on leaves for Union business or elected public office may continue their health care and dental benefit coverage, provided that they pay the full cost of such coverage.

1-17.3. Pension Contributions During Leaves. 

Bargaining unit employees who are on leaves for Union business or elected public office shall be permitted to pay the contributions required or permitted by law to be made by the employee and the BOARD to the Public School Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago or the Municipal Employees’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago to ensure that full credit for retirement purposes is granted for the time spent on such leaves of absence.

1-17.4. Seniority Accrual on Leave. 

Bargaining unit employees who are on leaves for Union business or elected public office shall continue to accrue seniority with the BOARD, and the leave of absence will not be considered a break in service.

1-17.5. Return from Leave. 

1-17.5(a).  Appointed Teachers, Clinicians or PSRPs Elected as UNION Officers. 

An appointed teacher, clinician or PSRP who is elected as President, Vice President, Recording Secretary or Financial Secretary of the UNION, and who decides to return to BOARD employment following the conclusion of his or her first term in office shall be returned to his or her original position in his or her original school or unit. An appointed teacher, clinician, or PSRP who is elected as President, Vice President, Recording Secretary or Financial Secretary of the UNION and who serves more than one term and decides to return to BOARD employment following the conclusion of his or her last term in office shall be assigned to an equivalent position in his or her area of licensure.

1-17.5(b).  Other Teachers, Clinicians or PSRPs and members elected to Public Office. 

If a teacher, clinician or PSRP on UNION leave, not covered by subsection 1-17.5(a) decides to return to BOARD employment within one year of the beginning of the UNION leave at the conclusion of his or her UNION leave, the teacher, clinician or PSRP shall be returned to his or her former position in his or her former school or unit. If such a teacher, clinician or PSRP decides to return to BOARD employment after one year from the beginning of the UNION leave, he or she shall be assigned to an equivalent position in the area of his or her licensure assigned to an equivalent position in the area of his or her certification. The teacher, clinician or PSRP and shall not have the right to return to his or her original school or unit. A teacher, clinician, or PSRP elected to municipal, county, state, or federal office who decides to return to the BOARD at the conclusion of his or her elected office shall be assigned to an equivalent position in his or her area of licensure.

1-17.6. Classroom Teaching During UNION Leaves. 

Teachers who are on a UNION leave may teach classes for which they are properly certified, subject to the voluntary agreement to such arrangement between the teacher and the principal or head administrator of the school or unit.