Professional Leave Information

The administrative staff of Arab City Schools believes that many local, state, regional, and national organizations provide viable professional growth opportunities. The following plan has been developed in an effort to establish an equitable method of considering teacher initiated requests to attend such conferences.

 

1. Submit a Professional Leave Request Form at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the event.
2. Submit a conference program or a list of the scheduled activities if available.

After the Training:

1. Work with your building principal and grade-level/department chairperson to implement the knowledge/skills gained at the training. 
2. When appropriate, provide inservice training activities to other subject/grade-level teachers using the knowledge and skills gained at the training.

Criteria for Determination:

1. Degree to which the information to be gained justifies the potential expense involved.
2. Degree to which the potential benefits justify the loss of classroom teaching time.
3. Degree to which the projected plan for sharing conference activities with other teachers meet the needs of the instructional program.
4. Percent of the budgeted funds for professional development needed to meet the projected expenses of the conference

Note:

• Priority consideration will be given to teachers who belong to the sponsoring organization and/or have not recently attended a similar conference
• Regional Inservice Center activities that are sponsored by other school systems during the regular school day will not normally be approved.

REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES:

 

State, Federal, and local audit procedures require appropriate receipts for reimbursement of expenses from local school board funds.

1. Registration: Teachers will be reimbursed for normal conference registration expenses. Teachers may also request that the Board of Education pay registration expenses in advance. Many professional organizations combine conference registration fees with membership dues. The Board of Education does not pay professional membership dues. Therefore, conference registration fees and membership dues should be separated when requesting payment or reimbursement.
2. Lodging: Teachers will be reimbursed for single room rates only. Services provided by the hotel management at additional costs cannot be reimbursed by the Board of Education. (Such services might include charges for room service, beverages, personal telephone calls, newspapers, movies, and other personal amenities.)
3. Meals: Teachers will be reimbursed for actual costs of meals. (No attempt will be made to establish a per diem allowance for meals. Teachers are expected to exercise good judgment in their request for meal reimbursement.)
4. Mileage: The school vehicle is available for teachers to use for travel to and from conferences. A copy of the teacher’s driver’s license must be on file at the Central Office prior to departure. Priority consideration will be given based on the distance to the destination and the length of the stay. Mileage reimbursement must be pre-approved. Teachers who drive their own automobiles will be reimbursed at the rate of $.40 ½ per mile. (Teachers are expected to car pool when several individuals attend the same conference.)