Parents and students urge board to keep Easton leadership after closed-session report that one principal will be released

Dozens of parents, students and staff urged the New Haven Unified School District board on March 3 to reverse a personnel recommendation and keep Principal Matt Harris at Delaney Easton Elementary, arguing that frequent leadership turnover harms students.

Community members delivered emotional, often personal appeals during the public-comment period. "Can you give Mr. Harris and Ms. V a chance to learn from their mistakes?" third-grader Nora Sabra told trustees. "He’s earned the children's love and trust," parent Salisa Wong said, urging the board to demand objective criteria before removing a principal. Navi Delawal, dialing in by Zoom, said the decision felt "hasty" and noted she believed supporting documentation from about 27 teachers had not reached the board.

The appeals came after repeated testimony that Easton has had multiple principals in recent years and that Mr. Harris has boosted school morale. "Constant leadership turnover is disruptive to our students and damaging to morale at the school," parent Monica Kim said.

After convening in closed session, the board returned to open session and reported personnel actions. According to the board's public report, trustees voted in closed session "by a 3 to 2 vote to release 1 certificated principal," with trustees Freeburg and Kumar recorded as dissenting. The board also reported it had authorized the release of eight certificated teachers in a separate closed-session action.

Board president Raffae said the decision followed "careful consideration and deliberation of the district's findings and investigations" and that the choice was grounded in information presented to trustees. Raffae acknowledged the strong community support for Mr. Harris — "a petition signed by over 300 parents and 26 teachers speaks volumes" — but said respect for relationships does not remove the board’s responsibility to address documented findings and ensure consistent leadership standards.

Trustees did not discuss the details of the closed-session investigation in open session beyond the report of action, citing confidentiality rules for employee matters.

What happens next: the board’s action is recorded in the meeting report; parents and community members said they will continue to engage the board at future meetings. The board’s written personnel records or formal notices would contain additional procedural and legal detail about effective dates or appeal rights, which were not specified in the public report.

Sources: Public comments and the board’s open-session report-out at the March 3, 2026 New Haven Unified School District board meeting.