Contributed photo
Rev. Edmonds and Ed Joyner started a book bank for Wexler students, back in the day.
The city’s school board voted to rename New Haven’s adult education center after the late local minister and civil rights leader Edwin R. Edmonds — as it considers whether or not to extend the program’s lease on Ella T. Grasso Boulevard for another five years.
The Board of Education took those votes Monday night during its latest biweekly meeting, which was held in person at John C. Daniels School and online via Zoom.
They voted unanimously to approve the renaming of New Haven Adult Education Center after Rev. Edmonds. That renaming won’t become effective until the program relocates to its new home at a city-owned, to-be-renovated former state welfare building at 188 Bassett St. in Newhallville.
According to New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) spokesperson Justin Harmon, the district expects to move Adult Ed to Newhallville by June 2026. After the relocation, the program will be called the Dr. Edwin R. Edmonds Adult Education Center.
Meanwhile, the Adult Ed Center remains in leased space at 580 Ella T. Grasso Blvd. in the Hill.
Later on during Monday’s meeting, the school board voted to table a newly drafted agreement for a five-year lease extension at that rented location.
That agreement, which the Board of Education’s Finance and Operations Committee recommended to the full board, proposes a 3 percent annual increase to Adult Ed’s rent. That’s the same annual escalation as the district’s current lease, which extends through June 30, 2025.
If approved, the new lease would start July 1, 2025, and end on June 30, 2030. In a memo provided to the school board, NHPS attorney Elia Alexiades and Adult Ed Principal Michelle Bonora noted that the new lease would include “a termination provision after the second year, (July 1, 2027) at our sole discretion, upon 90 days advance written notice. This duration provides stability during construction while allowing us to continue to meet educational goals.”
The district is currently paying around $60,000 in monthly rent for the Boulevard building. According to Monday’s memo, that number would increase to a monthly rent of almost $62,000 starting July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2026. Starting July 1, 2026, monthly rent would increase to $63,733 until June 30, 2027.
The new lease would also require the landlord to ensure the HVAC system is fully functional, that roof and exterior leaks are repaired, and that damaged ceiling tiles are replaced, at the Ella T. Grasso building. The owner of that property is SP ELLA LLC, a holding company controlled by local landlord Sim Levenhartz. Click here and here for past stories about maintenance and conditions problems Adult Ed has had at that building on the Boulevard.
Reached for comment Wednesday, Mayor Justin Elicker, who moved to table the approval of the proposed lease agreement Monday, said “it [is] a draft agreement and we are still in conversations with the landlord.”
School board secretary Edward Joyner shared Monday that he’s been working with the community and district for the past three years to navigate the renaming process. As chair of the district’s facilities naming committee, he said he received many community requests for the district to honor Rev. Edmonds, who was pastor of Dixwell United Church of Christ.
He spoke on Monday about the impact Edmonds had on New Haven’s community, from the schools to civil rights. He shared a photo of him and Edmonds decades ago starting a book collection for students at Wexler.
Joyner said that “great leaders are transformative. They make a way out of no way.” He described Edmonds as having a strong and caring heart, and as someone who was focused on investing in the community. He added that he among several other New Haven educators, was a direct beneficiary of Edmonds’ commitment to young learners and to New Haven as a whole.
The name change was unanimously approved 6 – 0 during Monday’s meeting. (Adult Ed won’t be the only school in New Haven named after Rev. Edmonds; a new charter school started by Rev. Boise Kimber is slated to be named Edmonds-Cofield Academy, after Rev. Edmonds and Curtis Cofield.)
Board member Abie Benitez, who is a former Adult Ed educator, added Monday that Edmonds encouraged her to advocate for all children. She said he touched the lives of New Haveners beyond his own church community.
During Monday’s meeting, the school board also voted to approve the renaming of the Floyd Little Athletic Center’s court to the Robert Laemel — Salvatore Verderame Court. They both were former New Haven coaches. Laemel was also the former Director of Athletics for NHPS, and Verderame was also a school administrator.
The memo about the draft new lease.