Support staff members shall not be absent from their assigned duties except as authorized by the Superintendent or designated representative. A support staff member who is willfully absent from duty without leave shall forfeit compensation for the time of such absence. Appointments shall be subject to cancellation by the Board and the support staff member shall be subject to immediate dismissal.

The immediate supervisor and the Superintendent shall approve the request for leave of absence prior to the effective date of the leave. Except in cases of emergency, the request shall be filed at least ten (10) days according to established procedures before the date on which the proposed leave is to become effective.

All leave shall expire no later than June 30^th of each school year. When a second year of leave is being requested, the support staff member shall re-apply for leave effective July 1^st of the following school year.

Support staff members on unpaid (other than illness) leave may be used on a substitute basis.

Paid leaves of absence include: vacation, sick leave, personal charged to sick, jury duty/court service, illness or injury in line of duty, professional and military. Professional study, personal leave not paid, illness not paid, family and medical leave, maternity/adoption and child rearing leave are types of unpaid leaves.

Employees in bargaining units refer to negotiated agreements.

F.S. 1012.22, 1012.61, 1012.63, 1012.66, 1012.67