1. 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/spiritual days and/or spiritual practices and beliefs observed by the teacher and designated as a day of obligation by the teacher's religion/spiritual beliefs and practices.
Teachers shall not absent themselves from duty for reason of religious holy days without first notifying the Director of Education or designate.
The following notification period shall apply:
i. Teachers on staff requiring religious holy leave days during the school year shall provide notice in writing on the prescribed form as soon as possible after the start of the school year.
ii. In instances where religious holy leave days are required prior to September 30 in the school year, notice shall be given within ten (10) working days after the start of the school year, unless the holy day(s) falls within the first ten (10) working days of the school year where notice shall not be less than five (5) working days.
2. The parties agree that this article constitutes reasonable accommodation for religious holy leave.