Finance committee reviews substitute teachers contract but takes no vote because of lack of quorum

The New Haven Board of Alders finance committee on June 9, 2025 heard a presentation on a successor collective bargaining agreement between the Board of Education and the substitute teachers’ chapter of the New Haven Federation of Teachers but did not take a vote because the committee lacked a quorum.

The ratified agreement covers the period from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2027, and the cover memo attached to the order lists multi-year wage increases, the presenter said. "The cover memo covers most of the details of the wages increase," Dr. Paul White said. "It was projected into budget." The union named in the order was listed in the meeting materials as the substitutes chapter of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 933, AFT Connecticut, AFL-CIO.

Committee members pressed for clarity about retroactive pay and budget impacts. Chair Adam Marchand said the statutory deadline for a committee vote would pass before the next regular meeting and discussed the committee’s typical workaround: asking the president of the Board of Alders to discharge the item so the full board can act in July. "The statutory deadline for voting on the contract will... pass before our next court meeting," Marchand said, and he recommended following the committee’s usual procedure to allow the full board to consider the item in July despite the deadline.

On retroactivity and payroll timing, the presenter said the district would attempt to accrue the retroactive amounts into the current fiscal year but did not provide a final accounting. "I believe they will try to accrue it into this year," Dr. White said, adding he did not have the exact answer and would follow up. Members asked the administration to provide an estimate of the number of substitute employees affected and the expected retroactive payout.

Committee members and the presenter also clarified substitute employment conditions. The contract provides a 6% increase effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and a 3% increase for the following year, the chair and presenter stated during questioning. Committee members confirmed substitutes do not receive medical or retirement benefits through the contract but are eligible for certain supports such as tuition reimbursement and may be considered for permanent positions if hired into permanent roles. A committee member noted the pay step for noncertified substitutes occurs after 40 days of work in a position.

Because the committee lacked a quorum the body did not take formal action on the contract at the June 9 meeting. Marchand said the usual procedure would be to request the president to discharge the item so the full Board of Alders can act in July; no special meeting was scheduled. Committee members asked the administration for ballpark fiscal-impact numbers and for confirmation about how retroactive payments will be processed.

The committee heard no public testimony on the item during the public-comment period.