(105 ILCS 5/24-6.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 24-6.1)
Sec. 24-6.1.
Sabbatical leave.
Every school board may grant a sabbatical leave of absence to a teacher,
principal or superintendent performing contractual continued service, for a
period of at least 4 school months but not in excess of one school term,
for resident study, research, travel or other purposes designed to improve
the school system. The grant of a sabbatical leave by a school board shall
constitute a finding that the leave is deemed to benefit the school system
by improving the quality and level of experience of the teaching force.
This leave may be granted after completion of at least 6 years of
satisfactory service as a full time teacher, principal or superintendent
and may again be granted after completion of a subsequent period of 6 years
of such service. However, 2 sabbatical leaves, each consisting of at least
4 months but totaling no more than the equivalent of one school year, may
be granted within a 6 year period. A leave granted for a period of one
school year or less
shall bar a further sabbatical leave until completion of 6 years additional
satisfactory service, except that 2 leaves which total no more than the
equivalent of one school year shall bar a further sabbatical leave only
until the completion of 6 years additional satisfactory service following
the completion of the first such leave. The leave shall be conditional
upon a plan for
resident study, research, travel or other activities proposed by the
applicant and deemed by the board to benefit the school system, which plan
shall be approved by the board and not thereafter modified without the
approval of the board.
Before a leave is granted pursuant to this Section, the applicant shall
agree in writing that if at the expiration of such leave he does not return
to and perform contractual continued service in the district for at least
one school year after his return, all sums of money received from the board
during his sabbatical leave will be refunded to the board unless such
return and performance is prevented by illness or incapacity.
During absence pursuant to such leave, such teacher, principal or
superintendent shall receive the same basic salary as if in actual service,
except that there may be deducted therefrom an amount equivalent to the
amount payable for substitute service. However, such salary after deduction
for substitute service shall in no case be less than the minimum provided
by Section 24-8 of this Act or 1/2 of the basic salary, whichever is
greater. The person on leave shall not engage in any activity for which
salary or compensation is paid unless the activity is directly related to
the purpose for which the leave is granted and is approved by the board. A
sabbatical leave may be granted to enable the applicant, if otherwise
eligible, to accept scholarships for study or research. Unless justified by
illness or incapacity, failure of any person granted a leave under this
Section to devote the entire period to the purposes for which the leave was
granted shall constitute a cause for removal from teaching service.
Upon expiration of a leave granted pursuant to this Section, and upon
presentation of evidence satisfactory to the board showing compliance with
the conditions of the leave, the teacher, principal or superintendent shall
be returned to a position equivalent to that formerly occupied. The
contractual continued service status of the person on sabbatical leave
shall not be affected.
Absence during a leave granted pursuant to this Section shall not be
construed as a discontinuance of service for any purpose, including
progression on the salary schedule if one is in effect in the district. The
board shall pay the contribution to the Teachers' Retirement System
required of the person on leave computed on the annual full-time salary
rate under which the member last received earnings immediately prior to the
leave or a proportionate part of such rate for a partial year of sabbatical
leave credit.
This Section in no way limits the power of the board to grant leaves for
other purposes.
(Source: P.A. 83-186.)
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