Superintendent: Hay-Mac Teachers “Won’t Lose Their Position”
With the Hayden-McFadden school's new turnaround plan coming together, New Bedford Superintendent Pia Durkin says no one will lose their job during the re-application process, except for performance reasons.
On Wednesday, the School Committee discussed a number of recommendations to bring the low-performing school out of the level 4 designation, including requiring all staff and faculty to re-apply for their positions.
Durkin says asking teachers, administrators, and all other staff, including cafeteria and maintenance workers, to re-apply allows for the school to keep only those ready for a turnaround at Hay-Mac. Durkin tells WBSM News not all good teachers are the right fit for a turnaround school.
"The adults there need to commit and understand the magnitude of the work that is ahead," Durkin says.
Parents who spoke at the meeting criticized the idea, saying the district should be doing more to keep Hay-Mac's teachers.
"There are a lot of kids that want to learn. There a lot of teacher that want to stay, and I am for one, behind...110 percent with all those teachers that are there," grandparent Anne Przystarz says.
Teachers have until February 22 to inform the district if they want to stay at Hayden-McFadden Elementary. Durkin says a few teachers have already decided to apply for other schools.
Durkin also talked about negotiating a compensation system for teachers with the turnaround plan. She says while no staff will see a reduce in pay, rewarding teachers with good performance will help retain staff who fit Hay-Mac's needs.
Other recommendations for the plan include increased school hours for students, 15 additional professional development days for teachers, and improving parent engagement.
New Bedford will have until March 6 to submit Hay-Mac's turnaround plan to the state.