(a) The Board may approve applications for Sabbatical Leave from teachers with five (5) or more years of continuous service with the District. The duration of the leave will be for one (1) year and the study or planned research must be in the area of the teacher's expertise or in an area approved by the Board.
(b) An application for sabbatical leave shall be filed with the Superintendent not later than February 1 of the year in which the leave would commence, and must include an outline of the courses to be studied and a description of the value of the leave to the teacher, the District and the students.
(c) Sabbatical Leave will not constitute a break in tenure nor will it count as a year of experience for the purpose of increments.
(d) Not more than (1) teacher will be granted sabbatical leave during a school year.
(e) If more than one (1) eligible teacher applies for sabbatical leave, the Board, the Superintendent and the Principal shall decide which of the applicants may be granted leave.
(f) The District shall pay a teacher taking sabbatical leave on the following basis:
i. If the teacher's qualifications place him/her in Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 then the grant shall be paid as follows:
• five (5) years of employment with the District = fifty (50) per cent of current annual basic salary
• six (6) years of employment with the District = sixty (60) per cent of current annual basic salary
• seven (7) or more years employment with the District = seventy (70) per cent of current annual basic salary
• The maximum grant paid by the District under (i) will be seventy percent (70%) of Class IV maximum salary
ii. If the teacher's qualifications place him/her in Class 5, 6 and up then the grant shall be paid as follows:
• five (5) years of employment with the District = Thirty (30) per cent of current annual basic salary
• six (6) years of employment with the District = forty (40) per cent of current annual basic salary
• seven (7) or more years of employment with the District = fifty (50) per cent of current annual basic salary
• The maximum grant paid by the District under (ii) will be seventy percent (70%) of Class IV maximum salary.
(g) A grant received under F. shall be deemed a debt due to the District by the teacher.
(h) If a teacher returns from Sabbatical Leave to employment with the District immediately following expiration of the leave, the debt to the District shall be reduced by fifty (50%) per cent when the teacher completes one (1) full teaching year with the District. The debt owing the District will be reduced by one hundred (100%) per cent when the teacher completes two (2) consecutive teaching years with the District following completion of Sabbatical Leave.
(i) The returning teacher shall be offered a position suitable to his/her qualifications and experience or an arrangement mutually acceptable to the teacher and district.
(j) The Board may propose that a teacher considers applying for Sabbatical Leave.