HR Policy 8.14(a)

Sabbatical Leave Policy

1. Authorization:

a. Sabbatical leave of absence may be granted to administrators of the Madison Metropolitan School District. The granting of such leaves is subject to the approval of the Sabbatical Leave Committee appointed by the Superintendent.

b. The following criteria will be considered in selecting candidates for sabbatical leave:

	evidence of acceptance of the candidate's program or project by the institution offering advanced study or research;
	merit of objectives for sabbatical leave;
	years of experience in the Madison Metropolitan School District;
	previous leaves;
	needs within the school system; and
	any other criteria as may be determined by the Sabbatical Leave Committee.

c. The Sabbatical Leave Committee shall include the Director of Human Resources, one representative designated by the Association of Madison School District Administrators (AMSDA), and one citizen member to be designated by the Superintendent.

2. Eligibility and Qualifications:

a. Any administrator employed by the Madison Metropolitan School District who meets the qualifications shall be eligible to apply for sabbatical leave subject to the following conditions and requirements:

(1) Applicant must have five (5) consecutive years of satisfactory service as a full-time administrator under contract to the Madison Metropolitan School District.

(2) Subsequent sabbatical leaves may be authorized after eligibility has been re-established by service of an additional five (5) consecutive years of satisfactory services as a full-time administrator under contract to the Madison Metropolitan School District.

(3) The number of sabbatical leaves granted each year will be determined by the amount of funds established by the Board of Education for administrator sabbatical leaves.

(4) A sabbatical leave shall be granted for not less than one (1) full semester nor for more than two (2) full consecutive full semesters. The leave must coincide with the regular school year (fall/spring) in this order only.

(5) The applicant, if granted a sabbatical leave, shall sign an agreement to return to service with the Madison Metropolitan School District immediately upon termination of the sabbatical leave and to continue in such service for a period of two (2) years (unless causes beyond his/her control prevent) or to refund any compensation received from the Board of Education while on leave except as the Board shall, by special action, waive such obligations.

3. Purposes of Sabbatical Leave:

a. Sabbatical leave is granted to administrators to permit them to improve their ability to render administrative service. Such improvement is usually achieved by formal study and/or research. Applications for sabbatical leave will be considered on their merits and the justification for the request.

b. The following information shall be presented in the application as evidence of the administrator's plan to fulfill the purposes of the leave:

(1) For Formal Study - A program of work should be outlined which requires a minimum of nine (9) academic credits per semester and will qualify the applicant for greater competence in his/her major field or a program of course work leading to an advanced degree in his/her area of administration.

(2) For Research - The proposed project shall be outlined and received by the Sabbatical Leave Committee as the project relates to the present or prospective administrative service of the applicant in his/her profession.

4. Application Requirements and Procedures:

a. Applications for sabbatical leave must be filed on prescribed forms with the Sabbatical Leave Committee. The due date of such forms shall be February 1 for leaves beginning the first semester of any subsequent school year and September 1 for leaves beginning the second semester. Applicants shall be given notice of acceptance or rejection of his/her request within 30 days following the due date for filing the application.

5. Requirements and Status While on Sabbatical Leave:

a. Financial Policies

(1) The compensation for administrators on sabbatical leave shall be fifty percent (50%) of the contract salary for applicants on leave for two semesters, and one hundred percent (100%) of the contract salary for applicants on leave for one semester. If a recipient of a sabbatical leave receives income from employment or from scholarship, aid or emolument funds from other sources during the time s/he is on sabbatical leave, the Board of Education shall reduce the sabbatical leave payments otherwise payable by an amount equal to such income to the extent that such income, when added to the sabbatical leave payments, exceeds the salary which the recipient would have received if s/he had signed an individual administrator's contract for full-time employment.

(2) Payment of salary to an administrator on sabbatical leave shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Board of Education for payment of salary to any other administrator. The administrator on leave shall be responsible for keeping the Payroll Office notified of his/her address to ensure proper handling of payments.

(3) Administrators on sabbatical leave shall be eligible for the normal service increment for the period of time on leave. Salary schedule changes which may occur during the administrator's leave shall be reflected in his/her subsequent contract.

(4) All current fringe benefits, except sick leave, shall be granted to administrators on sabbatical leave.

(5) Retirement, life insurance, health and accident deductions as well as any other deductions normally related to the administrator shall be withheld from the monthly payments due him/her during his/her sabbatical leave.

(6) While on sabbatical leave, an administrator shall not hold the Board of Education liable for illness or accident except as provided for in its insurance program.

6. Reports Required While on Sabbatical Leave:

a. An administrator on sabbatical leave shall report to the Sabbatical Leave Committee as follows:

(1) An interim report shall be filed at the mid-point of the period for which the leave is taken (end of nine (9) weeks for a semester's leave, end of first semester for a year's leave). This interim report shall contain sufficient information to enable the Sabbatical Leave Committee to determine that the leave is being utilized in the approved manner for which the leave was granted.

(2) A final report shall be filed with the Committee in care of the Department of Human Resources, 545 West Dayton Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53703, including the names of the institutions attended, courses pursued, credits received (support with official transcript), experience gained, together with the applicant=s appraisal of the professional value of the activities while on leave and the manner in which the knowledge and experience gained may be applied to the benefit of the school district.

(3) The Sabbatical Leave Committee may require that the employee shall promptly furnish such additional reports as the Committee deems necessary or reasonable to determine that the employee is fulfilling the agreement and all the requirements of the leave. In the event that the Committee shall find that the administrator is not fulfilling the agreement or is dilatory in any respect, the entire sum paid to the employee by the Board of Education shall become due and all future payments, if any, shall cease. When the administrator does not fulfill the leave agreement or when the administrator does complete the planned program of the leave, but does not return to service with the Madison Metropolitan School District s/he shall, within two years of the terminal date of his/her leave, reimburse the Board of Education in the amount of money granted to him/her during the sabbatical leave.

7. Requirements and Status Upon Returning from Sabbatical Leave:

a. At the expiration of a sabbatical leave, the administrator shall be restored to his/her position or to a position of like nature, status and pay provided that the administrator remains eligible for reinstatement under rules and regulations of the Board of Education.

b. If the administrator does not remain in the employ of the Madison Metropolitan School District for two years immediately following sabbatical leave, s/he shall reimburse the Board of Education in the amount of money granted to him/her while on leave and in the manner described in item 6a (3) above. This rule does not apply in cases wherein the administrator becomes incapacitated to work as verified in writing by a physician or in cases wherein the rule is waived by the Board of Education.

8. Sabbatical Leave and Board of Education Budget Reduction:

a. In the event the Board of Education shall suffer a budget cut during any year during the life of this agreement, the existence of this agreement shall not be considered an implied restriction on the discretion of the Board of Education in determining the dollar value of the sabbatical leave fund.

9. Accident and Illness or Other Termination of the Sabbatical Leave:

a. In case of injury to, or other illness of an administrator during the leave, which prevents completion of the leave, the sabbatical leave, including compensation will be terminated and all provision for sick leave will then apply. These provision will take effect immediately following notification to the Superintendent of Schools, verified by a doctor's report. Upon release by a medical doctor, the administrator will return to regular duty for the remainder of the school year, to be assigned as needed at the discretion of the Superintendent. If the individual is unable to continue the purpose of the sabbatical leave for reasons other than sickness or injury, the individual will notify the Superintendent and will return to regular duties as assigned.

February 1997