FARMINGTON – The current economic hardships have forced the SAD 9 Board of Directors to take unusual measures, such as denying some teachers’ sabbatical requests.

“I think it’s unfortunate,” Superintendent Michael Cormier said at Tuesday’s board meeting. “We’re probably going to lose a couple hundred thousand in state subsidy.”

The board considered a request from elementary foreign language teacher Matt Giustra for a sabbatical for the 2009-10 school year. In his proposal, Giustra stated that the main purpose of his leave would be to study, travel, and provide his students the experience of being immersed in another culture.

“More specifically, the purpose of the sabbatical leave is to gain greater proficiency in Spanish, gather and expand SAD 9’s offering of Spanish literature, and establish an international link with another school in Puerto Rico,” he wrote.

At the meeting, Giustra mentioned that he has a master’s degree in English as a Second Language, “and I may do some doctorate work down there (Puerto Rico).”

Cormier mentioned that the pay for teachers on sabbatical is a one and a half times their salary and one and a half times the benefits package. He explained that while he wasn’t opposed to sabbaticals, the timing of Giustra’s request was the issue.

Chairman Ray Glass agreed.

“It’s a good proposition,” he said. “It’s just bad timing.”

The board voted to deny Giustra’s request. Cormier mentioned that another option for him would be to take a leave without pay for the next school year to allow him to work with the children in Puerto Rico.

Virtual High School, which has virtual courses accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, allows students to take classes from a remote location that would not otherwise be offered at the school they attend. Cormier discussed a proposal with the board to have SAD 9 offer Mt. Blue High School students VHS courses through the Western Maine Educational Collaborative, meaning the school would combine with four other high schools to give students the courses.

“The courses are quite rigorous,” Cormier said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for very little money.”

The cost of the program to the district is $3,500 for six training credits for the teacher helping administer the courses to the students, and $1,000 to train as many site coordinators as needed. For the first year of the program, the cost is $5,600 for SAD 9, with $4,420 for successive years.

If the district chose to do this without the collaborative’s assistance, the cost would be more than $16,000 to start it. Cormier mentioned that SAD 9’s investment for the course would come out of course reimbursement, and that up to 25 students from the participating schools could take each course, with up to 17 courses offered.

“It’s not a make-up course,” he said, emphasizing that VHS wouldn’t replace instructors or courses at the high school. “It’s forward thinking with regard to us looking at our high school.”

Cormier also mentioned that an instructor in the district has stepped forward and offered to be the program’s teacher. The board unanimously approved the VHS program for the 2009-10 school year.

The board received a brief update from Cormier on the progress of the plans for the renovation/addition at the high school and Foster Technology Center. Although final floor plans are still pending, the board was able to view a rendering of the athletic facilities and food court, along with the integration of the technology center course area with the regular high school classes.

“We have two students on the board,” said building committee and school board member Mark Prentiss, who added that he was impressed at the students’ creative input into the planning process.