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New Haven board postpones termination of injured staffer, votes to bring facilities work in‑house
Summary
After public pleas from longtime district employees, the board voted to postpone the termination of Tamika Baines pending more information and adopted a plan to transition facilities and custodial services from contractor ABM to in‑house district management.
Public comments by custodial staff and teachers Monday night pressed the New Haven Board of Education to end what union speakers described as years of poor service from contractor ABM and to spare a longtime employee facing termination.
Tom Deluchia, president of Local 287 and a 26‑year New Haven custodian, told the board the current contractor “is reactive instead of proactive,” citing missing supplies, broken equipment and gaps in supervision. Dennis Tandell, vice president of Local 287 and a building manager, urged the board to trust district staff’s experience if the district brings operations in‑house. Both urged the board to approve a transition to district‑operated facilities management.
Board members moved to add an action item to the agenda to transition to self‑operated facilities management; the addition passed by roll call. Later in the meeting the board voted to adopt the district’s transition plan as presented.
Separately, the meeting included extended discussion of a proposed termination of employee Tamika (Tam) Baines. Multiple public speakers, including former colleagues and a 16‑year teacher, described Baines’ serious on‑the‑job head injuries and argued the district should not terminate an employee still recovering from work‑related injuries. Dr. Negron, the superintendent, said administration has followed board policy and HR processes but declined to provide more detail in public to protect individual privacy.
Board members debated the evidence and policy implications. A motion to postpone the termination until more information could be gathered passed (recorded roll call showed a majority in favor; one member recorded a no vote). The board asked administration to supply additional information for a future vote.
The board also approved routine minutes, recognized several retirees, and approved a set of procurement items earlier in the agenda.
The adopted facilities transition will move custodial and facilities management from contractor operations to district management as outlined in the district’s plan; board members and public speakers said the move aims to improve supervision, supply reliability and morale. The superintendent’s office will oversee implementation and report back with timelines and any staffing changes.
Next steps: the personnel matter involving Ms. Baines will be revisited after the board receives more information; the facilities transition will proceed under the superintendent’s plan with follow‑up reporting to the board.
