a) 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 employee 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 notifying the Superintendent 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, however, not later than September 30th;
ii) In instances where religious holy leave days are required prior to September 30th in the school year, notice shall be given within ten (10) working days after the start of the school year, unless the holy day falls within the first ten (10) working days of the school year where the notice shall not be less than five (5) working days;
iii) Where the appropriate notice has not been given, religious holy days leave will be provided and the teacher's regular salary will be deducted the substitute teacher rate in the teacher's salary classification.
b) The parties agree that this article constitutes reasonable accommodation for religious holy leave.