The State Personal Leave Policy authorizes teachers to earn personal leave at the rate of one (1) day for each half year employed. There shall be a maximum of two (2) days in advance of actually earning the leave, but should the teacher leave service prior to the end of the school year, it would be necessary to make an adjustment in the final check. This leave may be requested on a one-half day basis. Any Personal Leave day which is not taken during the current school year automatically converts to sick leave for the following school year.

All certificated employees who annually earn vacation/personal leave days based upon years of service in the Shelby County Schools system shall have up to two (2) of these unused vacation/personal leave days converted to their accumulated sick leave.

Conditions for using personal leave:

1. Subject to the following conditions, personal leave can be taken at the discretion of a teacher, who shall not be required to give reasons for the use of any personal leave. The approval of the Superintendent or his designee shall be required under the following conditions:

• if more than ten percent (10%) of the teachers in a school request the use of a personal leave day on the same day, provided, in making this calculation any major fraction shall be considered as one (1); and in schools of five (5) teachers or less, one (1) teacher may take personal leave at his discretion;

• if personal leave is requested during any prior established student examination period;

• if personal leave is requested on the day immediately preceding or following a holiday or vacation period;

• if personal leave is requested for days scheduled for professional development or inservice training, according to a school calendar adopted by the local board of education prior to the commencement of the school year; or

• if personal leave is requested for days scheduled for parent-teacher conferences, according to a school calendar adopted by the local board of education prior to the commencement of the school year.

Requests for waivers of the conditions listed above must be made in writing to the building principal prior to the occurrence. The building principal will either approve or deny the request in writing. The request and the principal's decision are then forwarded to the Superintendent for final disposition.

2. Except in an emergency, a teacher shall give at least one (1) day's advance notice of intent to take personal leave.

Procedure for requesting personal and professional leave days that do not require a waiver due to the conditions cited in the section above:

1. It is desired that the teacher inform the building principal of the need for leave at least five (5) full teaching days prior to the occurrence of the leave. Approval of emergency situations without due notice will be determined and authorized by the principal.

2. The teacher shall request a leave form from the principal.

3. The teacher shall present the request for leave form to the building principal for approval. It is the principal's responsibility to authorize these leave days in such a manner that the learning routine of the students does not suffer.
   
   T.C.A.�49-5-711