HARTFORD, Conn — In the wake of facing criticism from residents about the school district’s budget, Hartford’s Board of Education gained five new members on Wednesday, according to a release from the city.
Mayor Arunan Arulampalam made the appointments and spoke fondly of the outgoing board members, stressing in the release that he hopes to bring fresh energy, expertise, and strategies to the city’s school district to serve the students of Hartford.
Last week, the city decided to send an additional $10.5 million in funding to Hartford schools to address a budget gap in Fiscal Year 2025, according to the release.
Arulampalam said in the release that Hartford’s public education system is and will remain a cornerstone of the community’s future success. He said that the additions to the Board of Education represent a step toward getting the schools back in the right direction.
“I want to thank the individuals who will be departing the board – they have selflessly donated their time and energy to support Hartford schools,” Arulampalam said, in the release. “I’m confident that the board’s new members will bring fresh energy and diverse perspectives to the important work ahead. I look forward to working with them, their fellow board members, and all leaders across our city to revitalize public education in Hartford.”
One of the board’s new appointees is Jenniffer Hockenhull, who is the director of finance at the Adult Congenital Heart Association. According to the release, Hockenhull has significant experience in financial management and budgetary oversight in her current job. She previously served as CFO/Director of Management, Budget, and Grants for the City of Hartford, when she oversaw the city’s general fund budget and financial reporting.
Performance Manager Kory Mills is another appointee. An employee of the city’s Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Mills is committed to data-driven decision-making and strategic planning, the release said, noting that he has previous experience with the city’s Office of Management, Budget, and Grants, and the state’s General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee.
Ruth Reynolds Fortune, JD, is an associate attorney at Wiggin and Dana, LLP, and an appointee to the board. She specializes in estate planning and asset protection, the release said. Her previous legal experience includes roles at multiple law firms, where she focused on estate planning and immigration law.
Another appointee to the board is Steven Tatum, a former educator and former board secretary for the Hartford Federation of Teachers. The release said Tatum is a former English teacher and department chair at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy, who has also shown leadership as executive board secretary of the Hartford Federation of Teachers.
Stephen Wilson, a project manager at Cyient, a technology company that specializes in engineering, manufacturing, data analytics, networks, and operations, is a graduate of the University of Hartford and has experience in project management and plan management across various industries, according to the release. He is also an appointee to the board.
The appointments will be featured on the agenda for the May 13 Court of the Common Council. Appointees will be interviewed at a special meeting of the Council’s Labor, Education, Workforce, and Youth Development Committee, the release said, adding that the council will vote on the appointments on May 28.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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