Superintendent gives the school committee his resignation
but comes up short
on notice.
JAY – Stephen Cottrell wants to be able to pursue a new job, if the right one comes up, during the summer.
Cottrell, of Manchester, officially submitted his short resignation to the School Committee Thursday night. His last day is Aug. 5, or it could be earlier, if there is a mutual decision between Cottrell and the School Committee.
Cottrell’s contract has a clause in it that he has to give the board a 90-day notice of resignation.
He said he feels badly about leaving Jay but wants to pursue other options.
Cottrell has led the school system since the summer of 2000. Before that, he was superintendent of schools in Fayette and has numerous years in education.
School Committee Chairman Clint Brooks thanked Cottrell for his years of service and wished him well in whatever he decides to do.
“We had some productive times and some times that were less than productive,” Brooks said. “A superintendent is our leader of our schools, and he shares an equal burden as the School Committee and teachers when things aren’t going as well.”
In all fairness, Brooks said a new superintendent will give the system a new beginning.
The School Committee and Jay Education Association have been locked in a contract dispute since November 2001. Teachers are still working under the contract that expired in November 2002. Members of the association voted “no confidence” in both the committee and Cottrell this spring.
Applications for a new superintendent are due by June 6. Brooks said he is hoping committee members will be able to narrow down the candidates to six through a review of applications.
Brooks said he didn’t know exactly how the board would handle interviews. They started to discuss it Thursday night, but it had been a long meeting, Brooks said, and he recommended the hiring process be discussed at a later date. Applications are being sent to the Superintendent’s Office.
“This is one of the functions of a school board,” Brooks said. “My own personal feeling is it should be solely the function of the School Committee. The superintendent is the one person in the whole school system we hire. “
dperry@sunjournal.com
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