Each school board shall grant paid leaves of absence to the local association president of a state teacher association that is an exclusive bargaining agent in the district, or his or her teacher designee, for the purpose of attending meetings, workshops or seminars designated by the State Board of Education, the regional superintendent of schools, the general superintendent of schools in a school district subject to the provisions of Article 34, or the superintendent of schools in any school district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants to deal with issues arising from the education reform legislation of the 84th General Assembly.