New Haven superintendent warns of $23.2M shortfall; board approves new CFO and several contracts

Superintendent Dr. Negron told the New Haven Board of Education on April 28 that the district faces a projected $23,200,000 shortfall for next year and outlined a sequence of personnel and contract cuts she said would be needed if additional state or local funding does not arrive. "We're facing a budget shortfall next year of $23,200,000," Dr. Negron said, and noted that a proposed $5,000,000 local increase plus a tentative $1,700,000 state allocation would still leave a $16,500,000 gap.

Dr. Negron listed mitigation steps she said the district is prepared to pursue, including eliminating 42 vacancies (about $2,000,000), cutting $1,500,000 in contract services, reducing after-school programming (about $1,200,000) and tighter limits on part-time staffing; she warned that even after those reductions the district would still face substantial remaining shortfalls and said "everything is on the table." She urged continued community advocacy to state leaders and called for revisions to the state funding framework.

The board moved to approve the superintendent's personnel report, which listed several retirements and announced the selection of America Hernandez as the district's next chief financial officer. The motion to approve the personnel report was seconded and carried after a roll-call vote in which one board member recorded an abstention. Following the personnel item, the board's Finance and Operations committee moved grouped approvals for six resolutions to apply for and accept state construction funding; that motion passed on roll-call.

During the committee's discussion, members raised and resolved procedural and procurement questions. One sole-source energy contract with Artis Energy drew questions about the company's performance and the status of its sole-source letter; the board voted to table that item pending additional information. The board approved final snow-removal invoices after debate about contractor oversight and voted to table several memoranda of understanding while data-sharing work continues.

Board members repeatedly emphasized legal and fiscal limits. Committee members noted that state statute constrains the district from spending funds not allocated by the city and urged continued outreach to the legislature and governor. Mayor Elicker said the city has increased local contributions in recent years and urged coordinated state advocacy.

What happens next: Dr. Negron said the district has six weeks to press state leaders for additional resources and will return with more detailed mitigation proposals and implementation plans if funding does not materialize. The board approved the personnel report, assorted procurement items and several grouped resolutions during the April 28 meeting.