Part 5 - Leave

5.1 Leave Entitlement

5.1.1 Subject to clause 5.1.2 the Principal shall be entitled to annual leave during the periods when the school is officially closed for instruction.

5.1.2 During any period when the school is closed for instruction the Board may require the Principal, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to:

(a) undertake duties or responsibilities required during that period for the proper management of the school; or

(b) attend at the school or elsewhere for other purposes connected with the Principal’s employment.

The Board will however endeavour to arrange matters at the school in such a way that any requirement that the Principal undertake duties or attend at the school when the school is officially closed for instruction is not unreasonable.

5.1.3 The Principal shall be entitled to sick leave and other leave during this agreement, calculated and taken in accordance with the leave provisions applying to teachers in the School.  Except as otherwise provided in this agreement, this will be based on the aggregate of the Principal’s previous service in the Education Service and under this agreement.

5.1.4 Except as otherwise provided in this agreement, the provisions and policy relating to the crediting of previous service outside the Education Service for leave entitlements and the taking of accumulated leave at the end of service applying to teachers in the school shall continue to apply to the Principal for the purposes of calculation of any leave entitlement which the Principal may be entitled to under this agreement.

5.1.5 Nothing in this agreement shall limit the authority of the Board to grant to the Principal such special leave, whether with or without pay, as the Board considers appropriate to enable the Principal to undertake professional development training.  The Board shall have regard to the need to ensure that the Principal receives training appropriate to the requirements of the position.  Before approving any discretionary leave the Board shall ensure that the granting of such leave complies with any funding arrangements applying to the School in respect of such leave.

Note.  The parties are committed to the review of clauses 5.1.3 and 5.1.4 by 30 June 2008.  The intention of the review is to replace clauses 5.1.3 and 5.1.4 with provisions in this collective agreement which specify the leave entitlements and crediting of previous service provisions of principals.  It is not the intention of the parties to make any substantive change to those entitlements.  Upon completion of the review, the parties will undertake their respective processes with the aim of varying the agreement in accordance with clause 1.6.

5.2 Paid Sabbatical Leave Scheme

5.2.1 There will be 3 sabbaticals awarded annually. Each period of sabbatical leave granted will be of ten weeks duration paid at the rate of the principal’s normal pay.

5.2.2 Entitlement to the sabbatical is subject to:

(a) service of at least five years as a principal in the state sector;

(b) application by the principal which has the support of their school board; and

(c) the submission of a proposal of work to be undertaken during the sabbatical leave.

5.2.3 The criteria for the scheme and its operation is developed by the Ministry, the NZEI, the PPTA and the NZSTA.  The award of the sabbatical leave will be by a panel with representation from the four parties.