Teachers press New Haven board for higher pay, affordable health care and special-education caseload limits

Hundreds of residents packed public comment at the New Haven Board of Education's Dec. 8 meeting to press the board for a contract that improves teacher pay, provides more affordable health insurance and sets caseload limits for special-education staff.

Charles O'Donnell, a teacher at Wilbur Cross High School, said his real income has fallen roughly $2,000 since 2019 after inflation and criticized what he described as "skewed spending priorities," including unused technology in central office while schools lack basic repairs. "How can you ask us to continue to sacrifice when...it appears you are not participating in the same scarcity?" he said.

Speakers representing the New Haven Federation of Teachers and classroom staff pressed the board to adopt the Connecticut state partnership health-plan option, saying the district's proposed high-deductible plan would force many teachers into medical debt. Theresa Purdy (Co-op High School) said the district's proposed plan would require teachers to "pay $2,000 to $4,000 before insurance even begins," while several presenters said the state partnership plan would reduce out-of-pocket costs to near zero for many services.

Union leaders and classroom specialists also warned that rising caseloads are undermining services for students with disabilities. Jenny Graves (vice president, NHFT) cited district figures showing self-contained enrollment up by 78 students year-over-year and described self-contained ratios shifting from about 8:1 toward 13–15:1. She said psychologists and social workers have seen caseload pressure (psychologist staffing down 11% while evaluation demand rose) that could create compliance risk.

Parents and teachers gave personal examples. Christine Worski, a special-education teacher and parent, described paying more than $10,000 out of pocket during one month last summer for her child's inpatient care under the district's current plan, and said the state partnership plan would have eliminated that upfront cost. Student speakers and union organizers warned that neighboring districts' higher starting salaries and sign-on bonuses are luring early-career teachers away.

Board members acknowledged the testimony and the larger fiscal context. Mayor Elicker and other board members said the city is self-insured and that removing teachers from the city plan could alter risk profiles and costs for other employees; they said consultants have analyzed options but that revenue constraints remain. Multiple board members and the superintendent encouraged committee-level vetting and broader community engagement as the district develops next year's budget.

The public comment period closed after roughly 60 minutes with the union given additional time under the contract to address items on the agenda. The board will continue budget deliberations, including multiple community forums planned in January, while contract negotiations proceed.