The district will provide leave to eligible employees pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). FMLA requires employers with more than 50 employees in a 75 mile radius to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job protected leave to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons. Eligible employees are entitled to a maximum of 12 weeks of unpaid FMLA leave in a fiscal year. The district will require employees taking leave pursuant to the FMLA to concurrently use the employee’s accumulated leave days. In order to be eligible for FMLA leave, an employee must have been employed for at least 1250 hours during the 12 month period immediately preceding the period that the FMLA leave will commence. During an employee’s leave, the district will maintain coverage under the group health plan as long as the employee continues to pay his/her portion of all insurance premiums. Any employee who takes leave under FMLA will be entitled to restoration to the same or similar position upon return from leave.