Discretionary Leaves of Absence: A leave of absence for educational, family, medical or personal reasons, may be granted to any full-time or eligible part-time employees. You must present a Leave of Absence Request in writing to LCS 30 days in advance when the need for a leave of absence is foreseeable. Each case, other than those covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act, will be determined on its own merits.

Military leave:  Military service leave will be granted in accordance with applicable state and federal Law.

Maternity Leave: Because of the nature of education and the value of the teacher to the classes, LCS encourages only six weeks of maternity leave. These days will be unpaid except for any sick/personal days that have accumulated. Requests for longer leave will be granted based on FMLA. All accumulated sick days and personal days may be used during the six weeks of leave.

FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT (FMLA)
In compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), LCS permits eligible employees to take leave without pay for a period of up to 12 weeks in any 12-month period for any one of the following reasons:

1. For the birth or care of your son or daughter
2. For the placement with you of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care
3. To care for your spouse, parent, or individual who stands or stood in loco parentis who has a serious health condition
4. To care for a son or daughter (including stepchild, foster child, or child for which you are standing in loco parentis) under the age of 18 who has a serious health condition
5. To care for a son or daughter (including stepchild, foster child or child for which you are standing in loco parentis) over the age of 18 who has a serious health condition and is unable to care for himself or herself because of a mental or physical disability
6. For a serious health condition (including illness or injury) that renders you unable to perform the essential functions of your job

Eligibility for FMLA Leave:
To qualify for FMLA leave, you must have been employed by LCS for at least 12 months and have worked at least 1250 hours during the 12-month period immediately preceding the first day of the requested leave.

Procedure for Requesting FMLA Leave:
When the leave is foreseeable, you must provide 30 calendar days’ advance notice by submitting a written request for FMLA leave to your administrator for approval. A certification for the leave must be submitted from a physician or practitioner if the reason for the leave is because of a serious health condition of either yourself or one of your family members. The request for leave may be denied if the advance notice and medical certification requirements are not met. While medical certification to support a request for leave because of a serious health condition is a requisite part of the physician certification form, a second or third opinion may be required (at the expense of LCS).

Period of Leave under the FMLA:
If you are an eligible employee, you may take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during an FMLA 12 - month eligibility period. The FMLA 12-month eligibility period means the 12-month period measured forward from the date an employee first takes FMLA leave. After a 12-month period following the completion of an FMLA leave, an employee is eligible for another FMLA leave.

Benefits that are continued during FMLA Leave:
While on FMLA leave, you are entitled to have your existing health insurance benefits maintained in the same manner as while not on leave.

Benefits that are discontinued during FMLA Leave:
The following benefits may be discontinued while you are on FMLA leave: disability insurance and workers’
compensation insurance.

Intermittent or Part-Time FMLA Leave:
If you are an eligible employee, you may take FMLA leave on an intermittent or part-time basis rather than all at once.