Overview of Recent Language Changes
31.3 Parental Leave Compensation
Effective beginning the 2024-2025 School Year, the Employer shall pay one hundred percent (100%) of base wages and contractually agreed member benefits during the first four (4) weeks of the parental leave of absence. Thereafter, a member shall be eligible to utilize up to four (4) weeks of their own accrued paid sick leave without a doctor’s note to the extent available pursuant to Article 26.A member utilizing their FMLA entitlement may extend their parental leave for an additional four (4) weeks (twelve [12] total weeks) and utilize any accrued sick time consistent with District policy.
Types of Leave
Parental Leave
Extended Child Care Leave
Requirements
31.1 All full-time members who have completed three (3) months of service in the Hull Public Schools may be eligible for up to twelve (12) weeks of parental leave per child, for:
a. The purpose of preparing to give birth, giving birth and/or bonding with a newborn child, or:
b. The placement of a child under the age of eighteen (18), or under the age of twenty-three (23) if the child is mentally or physically disabled, for adoption with the member who is adopting or intending to adopt the child.
c. Any two (2) members of the District shall each be entitled to the parental leave 23 provided for in this Article for the birth or adoption of the same child. However, both members shall not be on leave at the same time.
31.2 Parameters on Parental Leave
a. Such leave from work must be consecutive work days and must start within nine (9) months of the date of birth/adoption of the child.
b. The member’s parental leave of absence shall be completed within one (1) year of either the birth or placement of a child.
c. Parental leave taken pursuant to this Article shall run concurrently with leave taken pursuant to the Massachusetts Parental Leave Act and Family Medical Leave Act, or any other applicable state or federal law, and shall be deducted from the member’s statutory leave entitlement.
Timeline for Requests
31.4 Notice to District
a. A member intending to take a parenting leave of absence shall notify the Superintendent in writing of their anticipated date of departure and intention to return preferably three (3) months prior to, but in no event less than two (2) weeks prior to, their anticipated date of departure. Members are urged to give earlier notification thus providing the Administration with additional time to secure a replacement and ensure continuity of instruction. In the event of an unanticipated date of departure due to circumstances outside the member’s control, the member shall notify the Superintendent in writing as soon as reasonably possible of their new departure date.
b. The pregnant member may continue in their assigned position as long as their physical condition and ability to perform their assigned duties allow.
31.5 Return from Leave
a. Upon completion of parental leave, the member shall be restored to the position the member held when the parental leave commenced or a substantially equivalent position.
b. A member shall be placed on the next step of the salary schedule on the year of their return if they completed at least ninety-two (92) days of service during the academic year of their leave.
Extended Child Care Leave
31.6 Extended Childcare Leave
a. A member shall be granted an extended child rearing leave without pay or increment but with entitlement to sick leave benefits for disability resulting from childbirth during this period of leave under the conditions set forth in Article 26, as applicable for up to one (1) year provided that the member returns on the first day members report back to school or at the end of a marking period.
1. A member must notify the Superintendent, in writing, of their anticipated date of departure and intention to return preferably three (3) months prior to, but in no event less than two (2) weeks prior to, their anticipated date of departure.
2. A member shall notify the Superintendent in writing of their intent to return and anticipated date of return to their position for the following school year by March 1 of the leave year. Absent any such notification, the member shall be considered to have resigned and shall receive the appropriate notification of non-renewal/dismissal by May 15.
b. Any member who has completed three (3) years of continuous service shall be granted an extended child rearing leave without pay or increment but with entitlement to sick leave benefits for disability resulting from childbirth during only the period of disability under the conditions set forth in Article 26 and 27, as applicable, for up to one (1) additional school year under the following conditions:
1. The one (1) year child rearing leave shall be for one (1) full school year from September 1 through June 30.
2. The member must notify the Superintendent, in writing, by April 1 of the member’s intention to take a child rearing leave during the following school year.
3. When the member returns to work at the beginning of the school year, as prescribed above, they shall be assigned to a position for which they are qualified.
c. A member who is on extended childcare leave shall not be entitled to accrue paid sick leave or other benefits during the period of such leave. Said member shall be placed in the same or similar position to the one that they held as of the date of commencement of their leave.
31.7 From the first day of any of the above leaves of absence, for up to one (1) year, the member shall be eligible to remain enrolled in the Town’s health insurance plans, however, the member shall be responsible for paying one hundred percent (100%) of the premium following the expiration of paid or statutory leave, whichever is longer.
Use of Sick Bank
You may request days from the Sick Leave Bank using the Google Form under the Sick Bank section of the website. To get more information, please email hullteachersassociation@gmail.com!
From the Contract:
27.1 A voluntary sick leave bank shall be maintained for use by eligible members who have exhausted their own sick leave accumulation through an illness. Sick leave bank days can only be used for the eligible member’s own illness, injury, or disability.
27.2 The Sick Leave Bank shall be maintained by the Association and administered by a Sick Leave Bank Committee composed of three (3) Association members designated by the Association, and two (2) members on behalf of the school district, designated by the Superintendent. The Sick Leave Bank Committee shall determine the eligibility for the use of the bank and the amount of leave to be granted. The following criteria shall be used by the Sick Leave Bank Committee in administering the bank and in determining eligibility and amount of leave:
a. Adequate medical documentation of the member’s own illness, injury, or disability. b. Propriety of use of sick leave by the member.
c. In cases related to a prolonged illness, sick bank days shall be awarded in increments.
Additional Resources