Students urge New Haven Board of Education to fund three dedicated climate staff roles

Dozens of student speakers from the New Haven Climate Movement told the New Haven Board of Education on Feb. 12 that the district should fund and hire three climate-focused staff positions to implement energy efficiency, climate education and sustainable transportation measures across New Haven Public Schools.

The students front-loaded their appeal with a mix of personal testimony and data-backed claims. "It breaks my heart that New Haven, a coastal community ... will only struggle more as climate change tightens its grip on our community," said Nancy Hann, a junior at Wilbur Cross High School and chair of New Haven Climate Movement's Climate Education Committee. Several other students described flood risk for waterfront neighborhoods, increased heat in tree-poor neighborhoods, and higher food prices for families already facing food insecurity.

The request repeats elements of a climate emergency resolution the board passed about 2½ years ago. Students asked the board to invest in three staff roles: an energy coordinator to develop and implement energy projects and pursue funding; a climate education coordinator to integrate climate and public-health curricula across grades; and a transportation and sustainability coordinator to work on healthy transportation, fleet electrification and waste reduction. Speakers offered two different aggregate cost estimates for the initial investment: several students asked for a $300,000 allocation while other presenters and NHCM leadership described a $400,000 figure to cover salaries, trainings and materials.

Student leaders said the positions would also support existing programs such as the Climate Justice Schools initiative and help pursue grants and other funding. "Dollars 300000 would hire 3 staff and provide trainings and materials for less than 1% of the BOE's budget," said Maya Harpaz Levy, a junior at Wilbur Cross High School and member of New Haven Climate Movement.

Board members did not take a funding vote during the meeting. The demand drew repeated references to the district's earlier climate emergency resolution; speakers said they consider the hires a first step to make that resolution operational. Adrienne Huk, cofounder of New Haven Climate Movement, told the board the roles would focus on curriculum enhancement, energy-efficient operations and healthy transportation. "We ask that you invest now for fiscal year 25-26 so New Haven can mitigate a heartbreaking future," Huk said.

Why it matters: Students and youth groups framed the positions as both climate mitigation and equity measures — aimed at limiting harms that disproportionately affect low-income and waterfront families in New Haven. Board members heard the appeal during the public-participation portion of the meeting, and the request joins other budget-year items staff and the board will weigh before any spending commitment.

The board's next formal opportunities to act on budget items will be during upcoming finance and budget hearings and committee meetings this spring. For now, the students' testimony was entered into the public record and will be available to board members as they draft and review the FY25–26 budget.