New Britain Board of Education response to the recent discussion around vacant football coach position

On February 5, 2020, Mayor Erin Stewart shared a photograph on multiple social media platforms of, what appears to be Jack Cochran’s application for the New Britain High School Head Football Coach position. Since then, there have been online posts, newspaper articles, and much discussion. Employment law prevents elected Board of Education members or staff from engaging in public discussion of the pros or cons of individual candidates for a position within the district.

The New Britain Board of Education takes pride in fairness, equity, and following our policies and the law. While we understand that there may be applicants for the posted Football Coach position who have past or present ties to the community, we need to be clear there are many factors search committees must consider. We do not believe it is ethical to announce and encourage public support of a candidate in a process that has merely begun, especially when there are clear guidelines in place.

It is unfair and negligent for this process to be tainted with interference from Mayor Stewart through a rally call in support of a single candidate out of dozens. It makes the process inequitable to the pool of applicants; to the students who deserve a thorough process that considers their academic, athletic, and social-emotional wellbeing; and to the community that is being asked to react on very limited information.

We all want the same thing, the best for New Britain students.

Per Board of Education (BOE) Policy 0521.00 - Equal Employment Opportunity – Non-Discrimination, “The Board of Education provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment.” In addition, BOE Policy 4111.3 - Process for Hiring Head Coaches outlines the minimum steps for a fair and equitable hiring process for that particular position, including the following criteria:

E. After reviewing applicants, a pool of candidates will be selected using the following order of preference whenever practicable:

a. Certified faculty assigned to the building in which the coaching vacancy exists;

b. Certified faculty assigned to a building other than where the vacancy exists;

c. Certified Substitute teachers;

d. Non-faculty school employees; e. Individuals who are not employed by the school district in any capacity.

In order to ensure what is best for all students, we want to be fully transparent regarding the process and timeline by which the next head coach will be appointed. Everyone must understand that set criteria were established before the position was posted to ensure a fair process while also making sure that all stakeholders are represented. This process will adhere to BOE policy, including policy 4111.3 (Process for Hiring Head Coaches, and policy 0521 (Equal Opportunity Employment Non-Discrimination) and the CSDNB’s Office of Talent Management’s best practices. All applicants will receive a comprehensive, fair and even-handed review for this opportunity, and the BOE does not support operating under preconceived notions, breaching applicant confidentiality, or anything that would compromise a fair and equitable search.

We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding throughout this process. The Board of Education takes the education of our students, including athletics, seriously and will work to ensure a fair and ethical process that provides our students with the best faculty possible.