Board withdraws Maria Culver's sabbatical request; asks for professional development plan

The Greencastle-Antrim School District board on Sept. 4 withdrew consideration of a spring-semester sabbatical request from second-grade teacher Maria Culver and asked district staff to work with her to submit a professional-development plan before the item returns to the agenda.

Maria Culver's request, included in the board packet, was described as part of a counseling program that requires clinical experience; the sabbatical would cover the spring semester of the 2025-26 school year. Board members and staff discussed the absence's cost to the district, substitute coverage and whether the packet included a development plan required by board policy.

Board members said the packet contained only Culver's letter; they did not find the additional professional-development plan that policy calls for. The board asked staff member Heather to follow up with Culver and to provide guidance about what the plan should include. The board sought to give Culver time to draw up the required plan and asked for an update by the first meeting in October.

After discussion, the original motion on the sabbatical was withdrawn and a motion to withdraw the item and move it to the first October meeting passed on a roll-call vote with all nine board members voting yes. The district will either place the item on the October agenda for a vote or provide an update that more time is needed for submission of the plan.

Board members also discussed the district's general practice on tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees, noting that district reimbursements historically focused on the first master's degree; board members said details about past practice and financial impacts would be considered when reviewing Culver's required plan.