All professional staff members not otherwise covered by the terms of a negotiated, collectively-bargained agreement of this District shall be entitled to the leave benefits which are not less than those provided in the master agreement.

All requests for unpaid leaves of absence by professional staff members shall be presented to the Board of Education for approval.

Any professional staff member granted a leave of absence by the Board shall be considered to have terminated all work with the School District until the completion of the leave. Exceptions may be made by the Superintendent in cases where the best interest of the District might be served.

Any teacher who leaves a teaching position by resignation or otherwise, and within forty (40) school days thereafter enters the armed forces of the United States or the auxiliaries thereof or such other services in R.C. 127.27, and who returns with a discharge other than dishonorable, shall be re-employed by the Board under the same type of contract as s/he last held in the District, if such teacher, within ninety (90) days of discharge, shall apply for re-employment. Upon such application, such teacher shall be re-employed at the first of the next school semester, if such application is made not less than thirty (30) days prior to the first of such next school semester unless the Board waives the requirement.

Any teacher or administrator who is a member of the Ohio National Guard or other such reserve components (State or National) is entitled to leave of absence from duties without loss of pay for such time as such teacher is in the military service on field training or active duty for periods not to exceed thirty-one (31) days in any one (1) calendar year.

Upon the written request of a teacher administrator who has served the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School for not less than two (2) years, the Board may grant a leave of absence for a period of not more than two (2) consecutive school years for educational, professional, or other purposes and shall grant such leave where illness or other disability is the reason for request. Upon subsequent request, such leave may be renewed by the Board. No leave of absence will be granted for employment in another occupation or business. No compensation will be paid by the Board for such period of time.

The Superintendent is authorized to set a date upon which a teacher or administrator on leave of absence must indicate his/her intention to return to duty. If the person fails to comply with the Superintendent's request by the designated date or by April 1st, if no date has been designated, the leave of absence shall become a resignation. A one (1) year extension of the original leave of absence may be granted upon recommendation of the Superintendent with the approval of the Board.

R.C. 3319.13