Policy Manual

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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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