Cooper Not Granted Extension
By Robin Vinci | Editor at May 7, 2024 | 6:00 pm | Print
New Britain School Superintendent Kelt Cooper’s time in New Britain has “run its course” and board members have decided not to renew his contract extension.
In a 7-1 vote on Monday board members voted not to extend the contract which is set to end in June of 2016.
“He was tasked to create a pathway/structure for change and was asked to accomplish specified goals within a finite period of time,” said Sharon Beloin-Saavedra, school board president. “We have begun to see progress with our ELL students and graduation rate - it has been slow but steady - however, many BOE members felt his leadership style had run its course.”
Cooper began his time as superintendent on July 1, 2012.
School Board member Nicholas Mercier was the lone vote to extend the contract.
“I’m disappointed that the Board denied Cooper’s request for an extension. Graduation rates are up, test scores are up, the school finances are being better managed, our English Language Learners are seeing more success, everything is moving in the right direction and we are pushing out the leader who made it happen,” said Mercier. “It also bothers me that not one person who voted “no” at the meeting was willing to go on record saying why.”
Cooper had recently announced he was looking for a new job and publicly applied for one in New Mexico. He did not get the job offer.
Cooper had no comment on the extension as of Wednesday.
Upon first arriving in 2012 Cooper said in a press conference that, “It is with great anticipation that I come to New Britain. It’s very clear to me there is a great sense of pride and love of the schools here.”
There were two areas he said he wanted to focus on. First, was the graduation rates and second was achievement scores.
At the time he was named superintendent, the board approved Cooper’s salary at $173,999 with a $20,000 annunity.
Cooper came to New Britain from Texas, but where will he go from here is undetermined.
“He will most likely actively search for a job elsewhere,” stated Beloin-Saavedra.
