The district shall grant military leave as provided by law to each staff member who is a member of a United States Military Reserve Unit or a member of the Washington National Guard for a period not to exceed twenty-one days during each calendar year, provided such reservist has been called to, or volunteered for, active duty or active duty training. Such military leave of absence shall be in addition to any vacation or sick leave to which the staff member may be entitled and shall not result in any loss of rating, privileges, or pay. During the period of military leave, the staff member shall receive his/her normal pay from the district.

Employees whose school district employment is interrupted by up to five years of service in a uniformed service are entitled to re-employment by the district following their discharge. Requests for military leave shall be made to the superintendent/designee.

The superintendent shall develop procedures for re-employment rights consistent with state and federal law.

Military Leave - Spouse

The district will allow an employee who is the spouse of a military member of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves to take up to fifteen (15) days of unpaid leave during a period of military conflict when:

A.    The military spouse is on leave from a deployment; or
B.    Prior to deployment once the military spouse receives official notification of an impending call or order to active duty.

The employee must work an average of twenty hours or more each week for the district. The employee is entitled to fifteen days of unpaid leave for each deployment. The employee must provide the district notice of intent to take leave within five business days of the call to active duty or notice of leave from deployment.

Legal References:
RCW 38.40.060 Military leaves for public employees
Chapter 49.77 RCW Military Leave for public employees
Chapter 73.16 RCW Employment and Re-employment
AGO 161-62 No. 81 Public Employees--State and Municipal employees--Military leave--Reserve meetings
38 USC 2021-2024 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

Management Resources:
Policy News 
April 2009 Military Leave
February 2009 Military Leave
June 2001 State Updates Military Leave Rights
 

Adopted by the Board: July 16, 2002
Revised: October 7, 2003
Revised: September 18, 2012