Committee amends term and forwards Madison Sheikha to Hartford Board of Education

The Hartford City Labor, Education, Workforce and Youth Development Committee on Dec. 2 voted to amend and forward a mayoral resolution endorsing Madison Sheikha’s appointment to the City of Hartford Board of Education.

Madison Sheikha, who teaches at the University of Hartford and is completing a doctorate in educational leadership, described her background and said she moved to Hartford five years ago and wants to help the city’s schools. "I teach at the University of Hartford in addition to doing my doctorate in educational leadership there," Sheikha said, citing prior work at the State Department of Education and in Comptroller Sean Scanlon’s office.

Committee members complimented Sheikha’s qualifications and discussed the challenges facing Hartford schools. "Statistically, the Hartford School System is somewhere near the bottom," Councilman John Gale said, urging attention to policy and funding limits. Councilman Alex Thomas said he had spoken with Sheikha by phone and thanked her for volunteering to serve.

During the meeting, Councilman Alex Thomas moved to amend the resolution to correct the printed term expiration from December 2029 to Jan. 1, 2028, saying Sheikha would fill the remainder of an unexpired term. The amendment was seconded and approved by voice vote. Thomas then moved — with a second — to send the amended resolution to the full council with a favorable recommendation; the committee approved that motion by voice vote as well.

Councilman Gale said the council is expected to act on the resolution on Dec. 8 when the item is placed on the full council agenda.

The committee meeting concluded after the votes; no roll-call vote or individual tallies were recorded in the committee transcript provided.