Teachers and union leaders at the New Haven Board of Education’s public-comment period on Nov. 5 urged the board to move quickly in contract talks, pressing for protections and clearer information about health-insurance options.

Leslie Plateau, president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers and a member of the union’s negotiating team, said NHFT came to the table with several “no-cost” proposals to protect academic freedom, LGBTQ+ staff and immigrant students. She told the board the district’s lawyer advised against accepting some proposals, saying they would ‘‘make us an immediate target of the federal government,’’ and expressed frustration that accurate comparative health-insurance numbers from the city arrived only after a delay that hampered bargaining.

"We came to the table with no cost proposals, to protect academic freedom in the contract, to protect staff and students who belong to the LGBTQ+ community, and to protect our immigrant students," Plateau said. "So while I'm frustrated that the board doesn't want to join us, I have hope we can agree to some no cost proposals that will continue to stand up for people who are vulnerable in our city."

Jenny Graves, NHFT vice president, outlined bargaining priorities she said are essential to retain and recruit staff: lower class sizes, fair caseloads for special education, increased prep time, classroom-supply stipends, and clearer budget transparency. "NHFT's proposals don't sit apart from the path to excellence," Graves said, calling the proposals "concrete and sustainable policies" to support teachers and students.

Multiple teachers on the union negotiation team—Jillian Lynch, Ben Scudder and others—said the outcomes of the negotiations will affect staffing levels and classroom conditions districtwide. Lynch warned that the next bargaining session is time-critical and urged the board to press for significant progress.

Board members did not respond during public comment, consistent with the meeting rules that restrict replies from the dais. Union speakers urged the board to allow observers at negotiations and to make comparative insurance information available sooner to facilitate a fair comparison of plans.

What happens next: the negotiations will continue in scheduled bargaining sessions; union members urged the board and city negotiators to prioritize accurate, timely data on health-insurance options and to consider the union’s proposed contract language.