Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Equity Student Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
D3A leaders tell New Haven Unified board Black students’ concerns have not been met with urgency; board directs written follow-up
Summary
Speakers from the district African‑American Advisory urged the board to investigate and follow up on reports of harm to Black students, asking for clear timelines and accountability; trustees agreed to have a summary and written follow-up prepared.
Akquila Bird, vice chair of the district African‑American Advisory (D3A), told the New Haven Unified School District Board of Education on Nov. 18 that when Black students and parents raise concerns “the district's response consistently lacks urgency.” Bird said families repeatedly hear “"We have a lot of work to do,"” a phrase she said has come to feel like avoidance rather than action.
Kron Smith, secretary of D3A and a parent, urged the board for “a written followup with concrete steps taken to investigate the concerns,” asking the board to name who is accountable and set a timeline. Smith said limited gestures and verbal acknowledgements are insufficient and that volunteers and families cannot continue to absorb the emotional labor of addressing harms in schools.
The board did not vote on policy changes at the meeting, but trustees discussed reestablishing an African‑American affinity group and agreed to have a summary and written follow-up prepared. A board member offered to compile a summary of D3A's concerns and next steps for trustees to review, and the board gave direction to staff to provide that written follow-up.
Why it matters: D3A members said the reports came from teenagers and parents who do not feel safe reporting or receiving timely responses. The board’s direction to produce a written summary and follow-up establishes an expectation of clearer documentation and timelines, but the district provided no additional public timeline or specific staffing changes at the meeting.
What the speakers asked for and what happened: Bird and Smith asked for prompt investigation, clear ownership of accountability, and measurable follow-through. The board responded by directing staff to prepare a written summary of concerns and options for follow-up; the district’s superintendent had earlier been directed in closed session to take follow-up actions on an unrelated investigation, but no public details or timelines were announced during the meeting.
Next steps: The board indicated trustees would receive the written summary and follow-up plan; the meeting record did not include a date for that report. D3A representatives said they will continue to press for transparency and concrete timelines.
