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Glen Rock teacher asks for one-year sabbatical; trustees cite budget limits
Summary
Regina Scottie, a Glen Rock teacher, asked the board for a one-year sabbatical to write and expand writing instruction; trustees praised her work but expressed concern that the contract would require paying roughly 75% of salary plus benefits (estimated about $77,000) and signaled they could not recommend approval given current budget constraints.
Regina Scottie urged the Glen Rock Board of Education to grant her a one-year sabbatical so she can write a children’s book and bring new writing curricula back to classrooms. “Writing and publishing will inspire students,” Scottie said during public comment, describing how a teacher-author could expand electives and strengthen state-test performance.
Several trustees commended Scottie’s decades of classroom service and said her proposal showed professional ambition. Resident Carolyn Setlow told the board Scottie had been “the most impactful teacher” for her son and urged approval, saying the sabbatical would benefit retention and the district’s instructional profile.
Trustees and administrators, however, emphasized financial constraints. One trustee who reviewed the district’s personnel history said sabbaticals in recent decades were rare and that prior boards denied similar requests for cost reasons. The board cited a contract term that would require paying 75% of a teacher’s salary and benefits during an approved sabbatical and noted the district would also pay for a leave replacement and associated benefits. A rough figure cited during the meeting put Scottie’s salary at about $77,000 plus benefits.
Board members asked whether the decision must be made immediately or could await budget development, and they asked Scottie for clearer deliverables or milestones if any paid leave were to be considered. Scottie offered to work with the review board and administration on timelines and accountability measures.
After discussion, multiple trustees said they admired Scottie’s work but that the district’s budget constraints — including limits referred to at the meeting as a 2% state cap on budgets — made approving a paid sabbatical unlikely this year. Trustees said they would follow up with Scottie about next steps.
The board did not take a formal vote on a paid sabbatical at the meeting; members indicated a consensus against recommending a paid sabbatical given current budget projections and the estimated cost, and they said they would continue conversations with the applicant about other options.
