Maternity leave; adoptive leave

A. The superintendent of the Special School District shall grant leaves of absence to regularly employed teachers for a reasonable time before and after the birth of a child. If multiple children are born on the same date, the event shall be considered a single qualifying event. The granting of such leaves shall not affect any of the tenure rights which the teacher may have previously acquired. B. The superintendent of the Special School District shall grant leaves of absence not to exceed thirty days to regularly employed teachers after the legal adoption of a child. If multiple children are legally adopted on the same date, the event shall be considered a single qualifying event. The granting of such leaves shall not affect any of the tenure rights which the teacher may have previously acquired. C. The position vacated by a teacher who has been granted a maternity or adoptive leave, or by a teacher transferred to the position vacated by a teacher taking a maternity or adoptive leave, in accordance with Subsection A or B of this Section, may be filled by the appointment of substitute teachers. D. A substitute teacher appointed under the provisions of Subsection C of this Section shall not acquire any tenure rights or privileges, unless the substitute teacher has subsequently been appointed to fill a regular vacancy and has the necessary qualifications.