a) The Association, upon giving written notice request on or before May 16th of each year shall be entitled to a maximum full time equivalent two positions for the following school year to attend to Association business. There shall be no loss of wages or benefits for the teachers on leave for Association business and the Association shall reimburse the Board for the full cost of such wages and benefits and any other costs associated with the leave. The details of the leaves requested are subject to the approval of the Superintendent prior to such leaves being taken.
b) At the end of the scheduled term of leave as established pursuant to paragraph (a), each teacher shall return to a teaching position as designated by the Superintendent without less than the same wages and benefits as existed prior to the commencement of the leave for Association duties.
c) Notwithstanding the limitations placed on the absence of individual teachers and the Association collectively, which are set out in Article 6.3, absence from duties to attend joint meetings with representatives of the Board for the purposes of negotiation, conciliation, arbitration or mediation-arbitration shall not be deducted from the individual employee maximum nor the Association collective maximum.