A teacher under contract shall be given leave of absence up to a maximum of three (3) days per school year without loss of pay for major religious holy days observed by the teacher and designated as a day of obligation by the teacher’s religion.
Teachers shall not absent themselves from duty for reasons of religious holy days without first securing permission from the Chief Superintendent. All requests for such approval shall be made through the principal on the form prescribed. No deduction from salary shall be made when teachers are absent for observance of religious holy days, up to a maximum of three (3) days per school year.
(a) When teachers are absent for observation of religious holy days in excess of three (3) days per school year a teacher may receive regular salary less the rate for a substitute in the teacher’s salary classification.
(b) The following notification period will apply:
(i) for teachers requiring religious holy leaves prior to October 15, ten (10) working days’ notice in writing shall be given to the Division, for teachers requiring religious holy days after October 15, notice in writing of leave required for that school year shall be given by September 30
(ii) for those teachers commencing employment with the Division at a time other than the start of the school year and who require religious holy leave, notice in writing shall be given to the Division within thirty (30) working days of active employment.
(c) Where the appropriate notice has not been given to the Division, the Division shall provide religious holy days and that leave shall be at regular salary less the rate for a substitute in the teacher’s salary classification. The Division shall act reasonably and fairly having regard to all circumstances.
(d) The parties agree that this article constitutes reasonable accommodation for religious holy leave.