Markeshia Ricks Photo
Supporters of a new $45 million home for Strong 21st Century Communications Magnet and Lab School pressed a reluctant Board of Alders, whose leaders remained firm in opposition while several others spoke up in support.
The occasion was a meeting of the full board at City Hall Monday night. The meeting’s agenda included a “first reading” of a bill by a board committee on the coming fiscal year’s capital budget — a bill which eliminated a request by Mayor Toni Harp to include a $10.5 million city contribution to build the new Strong School on Southern Connecticut University’s campus. The state would provide the rest of the money for the school, which would include a partnership with SCSU’s education program.
The full board didn’t vote on the measure or formally debate it Monday night; a vote and final debate come May 26.
But the school’s principal, parents and students showed up in force, reflecting Harp’s and school officials’ intention to enlist grassroots support to get the alders to change their minds in the final vote. (Click here for a full story about both sides’ positions on the issue.)
Alders spearheading the budget process argue that with an underfunded pension plan and health care benefits looming, the city simply can’t afford to take on new debt now. They argue that the city has built enough new schools, and that officials can distribute Strong’s students among other schools. They’re recommending that the funding for the school be given “leave to withdraw,” which they’ve said procedurally allows the door to remain open for building the school in the future.
The Harp administration has responded that the state money vanishes if the city doesn’t approve its share in this vote. They argue that the city should pursue the SCSU partnership, and that Strong’s current home at the former Vincent Mauro School on Orchard Street is crumbling and would need that money to fix it anyway.
Though they didn’t get to speak, parents and students from the Strong School packed the aldermanic chamber for the Board of Alders regular meeting Monday night, blanketing it with signs and handwritten letters from children.
The outpouring of support from parents and students, and the deteriorating condition of the school, tugged the heart strings of at least four alders who wrote a joint letter in support of spending the money to build the school.
“It is crumbling and disgracefully inadequate for education activities,” they wrote in a letter dated May 15. “It is our understanding that it would cost more to repair the crumbling school building than to build a new state of the art facility. New construction would be a more sensible and cost effective alternative to an otherwise costly maintenance and repair to a building that is past the end of its life.”
The letter was signed by Beaver Hills Alder Claudette Robinson-Thorpe, Quinnipiac Meadows Alder Richard Spears, Newhallville Alder Brenda Foskey-Cyrus and West Rock Alder Carlton Staggers. The four alders do not hold leadership positions and have not played major roles in board debates or decisions.
Both Spears and Robinson-Thorpe used their moments of personal privilege, usually a time at the end of the regular meeting when alders make non-controversial announcements, to offer remarks in support of building the school.
Spears (pictured above) urged his colleagues not to make the decision on the Strong School “arbitrarily.” He pointed out that not only had alders voted for other school building projects, they’d done so without complaint. “This is an opportunity to move this school into the 21st century,” he said.
Robinson-Thorpe (pictured) also rose to say that she supports a new Strong School. Board President Tyisha Walker had told members after Spears’ impassioned plea that discussion of the Strong School was inappropriate for Monday’s meeting. Robinson-Thorpe directed members to the letter. The letter goes on to say, “We believe a new school is a very worthy investment, and the Strong School students deserve the same type of facility that exists at other New Haven district schools.”
Hill Alder Dolores Colon, a member of the Finance Committee, pushed back against the characterization of the decision to not fund the school as arbitrary, particularly given the public hearings, workshops and committee meetings devoted to the budgeting process.
“I would like colleagues to follow these important issues by attending the meetings and participating in the discussions instead of accusing us ‘arbitrarily’ of making decisions without facts,” Colon said.
Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison, the board’s majority leader, said she has received a number of calls about the Strong School. She said many people agree with her argument for fiscal responsibility after hearing her out. She said her opinion is unchanged about whether the school should be built: She said the city simply can’t afford it.
“As alders we have to look at the entire picture,” she said. “Yes, the state gives us this money to build a school, but it doesn’t give us money for the maintenance of that school. We are already budgeting $4.5 million for maintenance on existing schools, plus $3 million in operating costs. Add to that a pension that is underfunded by $2.3 million and health care that is underfunded.
“We can’t do everything at once,” she said.
Will Clark, New Haven Public Schools chief operating officer, said a decision to not build the school has ramifications for the future. Not only does the state money disappear if the city fails to provide its portion, but so does a unique opportunity to build a modern school in conjunction with SCSU.
He said building the school on Southern’s campus would provide not only a state of the art facility for students, but also teacher training for university students, who could come back to work for the public school system.
“This doesn’t exist at any other school,” he said. “It’s not a model we got from somewhere else. This is home grown, New Haven built.”