732: SPS Employees Seeking or Elected to Public Office
Responsible Administrator: Associate Superintendent Human Resources
PURPOSE
Sturgeon Public Schools believes that employees who are elected to public office are rendering public service and should be supported in their willingness to serve.
PROCESS
The Associate Superintendent Human Resources is responsible for maintaining this Administrative Procedure.
PROCEDURE
1. Leaves of absence will be granted to staff members seeking to be or elected to public office according to the following guidelines:
1.1 Leave of absence without pay for up to six days in a school year shall be granted to an employee who is seeking to be or has been elected to a civic/municipal office.
1.2 An employee who is elected to a provincial (MLA) or federal (MP) government office or other full-time office, shall be granted a leave of absence without pay for the duration of one term of government.
1.3 An employee may retain their regular benefits while on leave, if they agree to pay the employer and employee share of premiums directly to the benefit provider unless they are elected to a provincial, federal, or other full-time office.
2. Application for leaves of absence to attend conferences related to elected offices shall be made at least two weeks in advance of the proposed dates of such leave to allow time for processing the request.
2.1 Application for extended leave of absence shall follow staffing timelines.
3. All applications for leave under this Administrative Procedure shall be directed to the Superintendent for approval.
4. Leave for a teacher that extends beyond one school year, shall be subject to the receipt of a resignation from any supervisory or administrative designation.
5. Any leave required for this purpose is subject to Administrative Procedure 730: Sturgeon Public Schools Employee Absences/Leaves – All Staff.
Trustee Election
6. In accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act, an employee of Sturgeon Public School Division is not eligible to be nominated as a school board trustee unless they have taken a leave of absence in accordance with Section 22.1 of the Act. Employees must not be actively employed by the Division on the nomination day unless on such approved leave.
6.1 If an employee who takes a leave of absence is not elected, the employee may return to work, in the position the employee held before the leave commenced, on the 5th day after election day, or the first working day after the 5th day.
6.2 If an employee who takes a leave of absence is declared elected, the employee is deemed to have resigned that position as an employee the day the employee takes the official oath of office as an elected official.
7. It is the responsibility of the employee seeking election to educate themselves on the entirety of section 22 of the Local Authorities Election Act when considering running for trusteeship.
References:
Admin Procedure: 730 Sturgeon Public Schools Employee Absences/Leaves – All Staff
Local Authorities Election Act
History
2020 Jan 29 Initial Approval
2025 Sep 24 Amended
Administrative Procedures VII. Personnel and Employee Relations (Vacation, Leaves, and Absences)