408.1 - Licensed Employee Professional Development

The board encourages licensed employees to attend and participate in professional development activities to maintain, develop, and extend their skills.  The board will maintain and support an in-service program for licensed employees. Professional development activities will include activities that promote and/or teach about compliance with applicable Iowa laws.

Requests for attendance or participation in a development program, other than those development programs sponsored by the school district, will be made to the principals.  Approval of the superintendent must be obtained prior to attendance by a licensed employee in a professional development program when the attendance would result in the licensed employee being excused from their duties or when the school district pays the expenses for the program.

The superintendent will have sole discretion to allow or disallow licensed employees to attend or participate in the requested event.  When making this determination, the superintendent will consider the value of the program for the licensed employee and the school district, the effect of the licensed employee's absence on the education program and school district operations and the school district's financial situation as well as other factors deemed relevant in the judgment of the superintendent.  Requests that are in excess of 200 miles and overnight travel must also be approved by the board.

The requirements stated in the Master Contract between employees in that certified collective bargaining unit and the Board regarding professional development of such employees will be followed.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8; 294.
  
                                    281 I.A.C. 12.7; 83.6.

Cross Reference:  405.10 Licensed Employee Organization Affiliation
  
                                    414.10 Classified Employee Professional Purposes Leave

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/17/2007                            Revised 06/17/2019
                                                                               02/27/2012                                         07/18/2022
                                                                               02/20/2017                                         11/21/2022
                                                                               06/17/2019                                                                                                                                                                                   07/18/2022

                                                                               11/21/2022