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Policy GCBDE
The Board of Education recognizes the importance of study and reflection in improving the academic and professional competency of professional staff. Any teacher/professional staff who has served continuously in the South Portland Public Schools for a period of at least seven years may, on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, be granted by the Board of Education, sabbatical leave of absence not exceeding one year for the purpose of approved study aligned to district goals.
A teacher on sabbatical leave shall receive a salary equal to one-half the annual teaching salary to which he/she would have been entitled had he/she remained in the school system that year.
Requests for sabbatical leave shall be made before October 1 of the school year previous to the school year for which the sabbatical is requested. Requests must include an outline of the course of study and its relationship to district work.
Before beginning the sabbatical leave, the teacher shall enter into contract to return to active service in the South Portland Public Schools for a period of at least two years after the expiration of such sabbatical leave. A teacher who does not fulfill this agreement shall make restitution of salary to the City of South Portland either in full or on a prorated basis if the obligation has been partially fulfilled. The teacher shall be released from such payment if his/her failure to serve the two years as stipulated is due to illness, disability, or death, or if he/she is discharged from his/her position by the Board of Education.
A teacher returning from sabbatical leave shall be placed on the step of the salary schedule he/she would have attained had he/she remained in the school system.
The number of teachers on sabbatical leave for study shall be limited to one unless otherwise approved by the Board of Education.
Legal Ref: Title 20-A MRSA Section 13604
Adopted: March 4, 1966
Revised: December 8, 1975
Revised: October 13, 1980
Revised: December 11, 2017
Adopted: February 12, 2018
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