School Committee Members Stand Behind Evaluation of Superintendent

The Seekonk Educators' Association's recent evaluation of Superintendent Madeline Meyer contained pointed of the district leader, and the school committee's review of her performance.

Yet, while the SEA referred to the school committee's evaluation as a “professional embarrassment,” school committee members maintain that their evaluation was done fairly.

“The school committee stands behind its evaluation of Madeline,” said school committee chairman Mitchell Vieira, who added that it is the school committee's responsibility to evaluate the superintendent.

Meyer has responded to the SEA's criticism by saying it is the result of the unsettled contract issues between the district and the teacher's union.

“My experience is that this type of ploy is typical in a district that is unsettled,” she said.

SEA President Simone Feaster-Armour said in a press release that Superintendent Meyer’s comment “stinks of petty contract politics, and is in the SEA’s opinion precariously unethical.” Feaster-Armour had asked that the school committee condemn Meyer's remarks.

As of last night, Meyer said she had not read the SEA release regarding her comment, but said that she didn't intend for her comment to hurt the relationship between herself, the school committee and the SEA.

“I do know from past experience that this is not uncommon,” Meyer said. "It's not healthy to have a contentious environment.”

“I've been a teacher most of my life and I understand the stresses on them,” she added. “I look forward to a better relationship with the SEA.”

Neither the superintendent nor the school committee could comment on the current contract negotiations as they occur in executive sessions.

The school committee's full evaluation can be found attached to this article. The SEA's evaluation can be found attached to school committee member Dave Abbot's  responding to it.