Cotter Criticizes Hayden-McFadden Reform Proposals

The Hayden-McFadden Elementary School will be one of the main topics when the New Bedford School Committee meets Wednesday night.

This meeting comes after an announcement from Superintendent Pia Durkin's office that teachers and all other staff at the school will have to re-apply for their jobs.

School Committee Member Chris Cotter tells WBSM's Brian Thomas that approach makes no sense.

I was very much taken aback when I found out that this re-application process wasn't just for the teachers, not that I agreed with that, but what is the reason that we're turning around staff of custodians...and even the assistant principal has to re-apply, who was appointed by the superintendent, so to me that just doesn't make any sense," said Cotter.

Another proposal has been the creation of a family resource center for parents.

While proponents argue it will cause more parents to become engaged with the school Cotter says he remains skeptical.

"I just don't see where a family resource center is going to be drawing more parents into the school than what we already have," said Cotter.

However, Cotter says that one set of recommendations for improving the Level 4 school should be given more clout than the others.

"Recommendations are coming from those faculty members and educators that were in that school, and those recommendations are the ones that are being presented by those that are in the trenches in the classrooms," said Cotter "so those recommendations should, in my opinion, be the ones that are highest priority."

The School Committee meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at Keith Middle School.