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Paraeducator warns Hartford schools' deferred maintenance risks student health, state funds
Summary
Shelley Davis, a Hartford paraeducator and labor leader, thanked crews for temporary fixes but said leaking roofs, mold and deferred maintenance threaten student health and could jeopardize state reimbursement; she urged immediate repairs rather than waiting for a five-year plan.
Shelley Davis introduced herself as a paraeducator and labor leader and told the council that recent temporary repairs — vents cleaned and heat fixed over a holiday break — were welcome but insufficient.
"We cannot make a mistake as a patch for a permanent solution," Davis said, noting that roofs still leak and mold can threaten children’s health. She warned that delaying maintenance for a five-year plan risks state reimbursement and said school buildings are the city’s "economic infrastructure."
Bridget Prince later echoed those concerns and criticized what she characterized as mayoral choices that deprioritize education. Speakers urged the council to fund maintenance to preserve buildings and protect students’ learning conditions.
What happens next: speakers asked the council to prioritize repairs and to move beyond temporary fixes. No fiscal action was taken during the public-comment period.
