3.11WF—LICENSED PERSONNEL PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LEAVE

Personal Leave
For the district to function efficiently and have the necessary personnel present to effect a high-achieving learning environment, employee absences need to be kept to a minimum. The district acknowledges that there are times during the school year when employees have personal business that needs to be addressed during the school day. Each full-time employee shall receive two (2) days of personal leave per contract year. The leave will be charged against accumulative sick leave. Additional leave may be granted according to the accrued number of sick leave days: 15 days accrued - 1 personal day; 30 days accrued - 2 personal days; 45 days accrued - 3 personal days.

Employees shall take personal leave or leave without pay for those absences which are not due to attendance at school functions that are related to their job duties and do not qualify for other types of leave (for sick leave see Policy 3.8, for professional leave, see below).

School functions, for the purposes of this policy, means:

Athletic or academic events related to the school district; and
Meetings and conferences related to education.

For employees other than the superintendent, the determination of what activities meet the definition of a school function shall be made by the employee’s immediate supervisor or designee. For the superintendent, the school board of directors shall determine what activities meet the definition of a school function. In no instance shall paid leave in excess of allotted vacation days and/or personal days be granted to an employee who is absent from work while receiving remuneration from another source as compensation for the reason for their absence.

Any employee desiring to take personal leave may do so by entering the request into the Districts online absence system at least three (3) days prior to the time of the requested leave. The three (3) day prior notice requirement may be waived by the supervisor when the supervisor deems it appropriate.The principal has the right to deny days based on the educational needs of his/her building (i.e. testing days, parent-teacher conferences, during scheduled professional development). Personal leave is not allowed during the first and last week of school, or during the day before or after a school holiday, unless specifically approved by the Superintendent (or designee) or building administrator. Employees may not take more than two (2) consecutive personal days unless specifically approved by the Superintendent (or designee) or building administrator.

Employees who fail to report to work when their request for a personal day has been denied or who have exhausted their allotted personal days shall lose their daily rate of pay for the day(s) missed (leave without pay). While there are instances where personal circumstances necessitate an employee’s absence beyond the allotted days of sick and/or personal leave, any employee who requires leave without pay must receive advance permission (except in medical emergencies) and/or as permitted by policy 3.32—LICENSED PERSONNEL FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE from their immediate supervisor. Failure to report to work without having received permission to be absent is grounds for discipline, up to and including termination.

Professional Leave
“Professional Leave” is leave granted for the purpose of enabling an employee to participate in professional activities (e.g., teacher workshops or serving on professional committees) which can serve to improve the school District’s instructional program or enhances the employee’s ability to perform his duties. Professional leave will also be granted when a School District employee is subpoenaed for a matter arising out of the employee’s employment with the school district. Any employee seeking professional leave must make a written request to his immediate supervisor, setting forth the information necessary for the supervisor to make an informed decision. The supervisor’s decision is subject to review and overruling by the superintendent. Budgeting concerns and the potential benefit for the District’s students will be taken into consideration in reviewing a request for professional leave.

Applications for professional leave should be made as soon as possible following the employee’s discerning a need for such leave, but, in any case, no less than two (2) weeks before the requested leave is to begin, if possible.

If the employee does not receive or does not accept remuneration for his/her participation in the professional leave activity and a substitute is needed for the employee, the District shall pay the full cost of the substitute. If the employee receives and accepts remuneration for his/her participation in the professional leave activity (e.g. scholastic audits), the employee shall forfeit his/her daily rate of pay from the District for the time the employee misses. The cost of a substitute, if one is needed, shall be paid by the District.

Legal Reference: A.C.A. § 6-17-211

Date Adopted: May 11, 2009
Last Revised: June 9, 2025