Maternity Leave Intent Letter

I plan on taking off the remainder of this school year and all of next year. In my intent letter, I state that but my coworkers advised me that I should add something to the effect of "as long as everything is ok." They're concerned in case anything goes wrong that I be covered. Anyone else do this? Need the right wording.

Re: Maternity Leave Intent Letter

what do you mean by "as long as everything is ok". do you mean with the baby? or with your school's budget and possibly being excessed as you won't gain seniority while out on leave?

i think you need to state that you want the rest of the year off which would be your 12 weeks, plus all of the following year (which I am assuming you're tenured and would be entitled to that).

other than that, i don't think you need to say anything else. i know in my district, if you want more time than that, you have to submit another letter and it is not necessarily approved. it depends on the situation as well as the staffing needs of the district at that time. i know someone that was approved for more time because her child was ill and another woman that got more time because 1.5 yrs. after the baby was born her husband got cancer. another person stayed home an extra year because her leave replacement was happy to work for another year so it was a win-win for all.

it all depends on what's in your contract. the 12 weeks and the following year may be all you're entitled to, depending upon your contract. if it is, i would think you would need to submit documentation about why you need more time off... or have another kid ;)

good luck!

Re: Maternity Leave Intent Letter

Sorry, I should have been more specific. "As long as everything is ok" was in reference to my baby. My coworkers are concerned for me because there have been circumstances in my district that the Sup't was not very nice to a teacher that lost her babies.

Long story short, a team member was PG with triplets a few years ago. She had written her intent letter with no clause that her maternity leave was subject to change if anything should G-d forbid happen. She unfortunately lost her triplets. When she came back to work a few weeks later, the Sup't tried to move her to the MS instead of put her back in her original class. SO...that's the purpose for the precaution.

Re: Maternity Leave Intent Letter

this is exactly why our sup't tells us to wait to write the letter until after the baby is born. We had a circumstance in my district where a woman's baby died but they had already hired the leave and then the teacher couldn't come back until after her requested time was off. I would state something like, "it is my intention to blah blah, providing the health of my baby is stable. or something like that.

Re: Maternity Leave Intent Letter

I just wrote "for child care purposes". not sure where you work but I think once you put in for a year off you can't go back until the year has passed. why don't you just put a letter in every 3 months. That woul allow you to go back if need be.

Re: Maternity Leave Intent Letter

IMO deal with 1 year at a time.
Sign nothing ststing your intentions for next year. You can tell them verbally but not written!

Let them know you will be out this year and that is it!

Over the summer, let them know about the following year.

Circumstances change an you dont want to get stuck without a job!

Thia is what I was told at a maternity workshop for NYC teachers.

Re: Maternity Leave Intent Letter

Also,

My job was told i would take the 8 weeks. Then I told them i was taking the 12. Then I told them im taking the year off.

Re: Maternity Leave Intent Letter

I would speak to a union rep and/or look at your contract before submitting anything. Our union officers advise us to put in for small amounts of time. Then just keep submitting letters as time passes. You never know what would happen. You don't have to write anything until after the baby is born. Good luck!