Superintendent Stephen Cottrell still quiet on resignation
By Donna M. Perry
Staff Writer

JAY – Advertisements for school superintendent have been placed in local newspapers as well as posted at the Central Office.

But Superintendent Stephen Cottrell has declined to comment on his resignation until after Thursday’s School Committee meeting.

On Friday he did say, however, that he didn’t have another job yet.

Cottrell has led the school system since 2000.

Jay School Committee Chairman Clint Brooks said he hasn’t seen a resignation letter from Cottrell. He expects to hear his reasons for resigning during the meeting, he said. The superintendent had told Brooks he wanted to tell the whole board his reasons, Brooks said.

Jay School Committee has been locked in a contract dispute since November of 2001. Teachers have been working without a contract since September of 2002.

Cottrell opted out of being involved in negotiating the contract in order to help communications on both sides of the table. He suggested that the School Committee hire a negotiator to give the elected school officials a level playing field while negotiating with teachers, who have professional associations assisting them

Jay Education Association voted “no confidence” in both the school board and Cottrell earlier this year.

Fewer than 25 percent opposed the “no confidence” vote against Cottrell.

Under Cottrell’s leadership, the school district has seen students’ reading and writing scores improve. He has also been to visit the school buildings on a daily basis in an effort to get to know what’s going on in the schools.

According to an ad in Sunday’s Sun Journal, the deadline for applications for superintendent is June 6.

dperry@sunjournal.com