NEW HAVEN, Conn. — For months now, many school districts across Connecticut have been sounding the alarm about significant budget deficits, resulting in cuts for next year. The state’s second largest school district, New Haven, is facing an $11.8 million deficit.
“Everything is on the table. And it’s sad, right? It’s sad,” said Dr. Madeline Negrón, superintendent of New Haven Public Schools.
Negrón is nearing her one-year mark as superintendent in the Elm City. She said she loves this community, this state, and this country.
“I believe it to my core, the power that education has in transforming lives. It transformed my own life. It took me out of poverty,” Negrón said.
However, now looking at a massive deficit, she’s being forced to make some difficult decisions. The district is looking at cutting back on bus routes and taking a second look at all service contracts, hoping to save a couple million dollars.
“And even with all of that, right now, what I’m looking at, I could potentially still be looking about 60, 65 positions, that I may have to come to that hard situation of saying, ‘I’ve got to cut,’” Negrón said.
Negrón doesn’t know if those cuts will involve certified teachers, but they’re considering all scenarios.
“We already do not have the people that we need. So again, I told my team, we look at every other bucket first,” Negrón said.
However, New Haven isn’t the only district in this same situation.
“The cuts and the impact of the lack of resources is true for just about every district in Connecticut right now,” said Fran Rabinowitz, Executive Director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS).
Rabinowitz said for the last few years, school districts have been getting by on federal “ESSER” funds (The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund). Now, that money is running dry.
“What isn’t as publicly well-known is that during the time when we were getting ARPA and ESSER, the municipalities were also cutting down the funding that we had. From the municipalities so we were using that ESSER funding to offset the low increases we were receiving from municipalities,” Rabinowitz said. “The funding is no longer there and, so the municipalities haven’t been able to come up with the large numbers, you know the large percentage increases, which is needed to stabilize.”
In New Haven, Negrón said the district used that money to chip away at their previous debts. And though the city did give them $5 million more than usual for next year’s budget, it’s still not enough.
“There’s a promise as it relates to the ECS formula, that this beautiful state of ours made. And yet, we are still not there,” Negrón said.
That formula makes sure the funding gets to schools across the state in an equitable manner. It’s something Negrón is taking a close look at.
“I’m looking at state now, right? I guess, Gov. Lamont, I’m pleading to you at this point, right? We need that ECS formula to be fully funded. Negrón said. “Yes, you’ve done great work, and I thank you for that, Gov. Lamont. For the efforts that you’ve made. But again, it’s not enough.”
A spokesperson for Gov. Lamont responded to this plea, saying, “The FY 2025 budget includes historic levels of funding for our state’s K-12 school districts. During the Lamont administration, ECS funding has grown by $345 million, while at the same time overall K-12 enrollment in the state has decreased. Governor Lamont supports the acceleration of the phase-in of the ECS formula. As the administration develops the next biennial budget, we will continue to look for ways to ensure appropriate levels of funding to support our K-12 students.”
Rabinowitz also acknowledged the increase in funding from the state.
“The legislature did increase the governor’s budget on ECS, Education Cost-Sharing money. And you know, we certainly are appreciative of that. But, they did not fund excess cost and special ed. So, virtually, the district’s this year across Connecticut were shorted $79 million in excess cost dollars. So that added to the funding issues that we were already having,” Rabinowitz said.
----
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.