Oyster River board approves half‑year sabbatical for teacher; adopts consent agenda

The Oyster River Cooperative School Board on Feb. 4 approved a half‑year sabbatical for Megan Thompson (school year 2026–27) after the sabbatical committee recommended forwarding her proposal focused on increasing student participation in authentic science research.

Assistant superintendent staff presented the committee’s review and said the sabbatical would be structured as a half‑year release spread across the school year so Thompson would continue to teach half‑time while pursuing her project. A motion to approve the sabbatical passed unanimously among the voting board members (six in favor; the student representative voted in favor as well).

Earlier the board approved three sets of minutes (Jan. 14 public hearing; Jan. 21 regular meeting; Jan. 21 non‑public minutes). At least one set passed with five in favor and one abstention (Sean Harrison). The board also approved the unanimous consent agenda, moving several policies to adoption or deletion (listed in backup as GBE, GBGA, GBI for reading/adoption and GC QC for deletion). That motion carried with six board members voting in favor; the student representative also voted in favor.

No financial details of the sabbatical (compensation or budget impact) were discussed at length during the meeting; administrators said the leave is structured to maintain classroom coverage while advancing a curricular goal. The board did not take votes on the elementary expansion warrant during the meeting but discussed outreach needs and agreed to consider a board‑endorsed letter to the editor ahead of the March vote.

Procedural motions to approve the agenda and to adjourn also carried by voice vote (six in favor; student representative in favor).