Ed Board Gets Carter

Former city Chief Administrative Officer Michael Carter is back in town to do the work of the Board of Education’s suspended chief of operations (COO), at least for the next three months.

COO Thomas Lamb has been on paid administrative leave since May 29 pending an investigation the school district has yet to share information about. (Schools Superintendent Madeline Negrón said in an interview Tuesday on WNHH FM’s ​“Dateline New Haven” that the investigation is not related to a cyberattack that involved a $6 million theft.)

“I had asked the city for supports in the meantime, so I’m just pleased that I have Michael Carter, somebody who knows the city, who has extensive experience in this area to come and lend a hand,” Negrón told the Independent after Monday’s full Board of Education meeting at John S. Martinez School. 

Carter stepped in as a ​“Board of Education operations consultant” for a three-month contract that started June 24. During Monday’s meeting, Negrón said that Chief of Staff Michael Finley had also been taking on some of the COO duties.

City government, not the Board of Education, hired Carter. Carter will be paid $16,000 a month until Sept. 30. Mayoral spokesperson Lenny Speiller said Carter is on the city’s payroll rather than NHPS’ because ​“NHPS is currently facing a deficit. As NHPS works through its fiscal challenges, the city is covering the expense of this short-term contract.” Speiller said the parties are able to extend Carter’s contract, if necessary. 

Carter served as city chief administrative officer during the administration of former Mayor Toni Harp. In that position, he was the City Hall coordinator for New Haven’s police, fire, and 911 departments, among other city agencies. Since leaving city government in 2018, he’s been consulting for nonprofits in several states, including Maryland.

Carter told the Independent after Monday’s meeting that his experience in procurement, contracting, contract compliance, and operational practices has been helping him in the new temporary role. 

He added that a Monday discussion between the board about an amendment to increase funding by $500,000 to a part-time custodial contract felt familiar to past dealings he has helped to resolve for contractors and union employees. 

“I’ve seen models where it’s all city. I’ve seen models where it’s all contracts. I’ve seen models where it’s hybrid,” Carter said about balancing workloads between municipal staff and hired third-parties. ​“One of my best experiences in the city of Indianapolis, we had a hybrid model of people picking up trash. I was the CFO [chief financial officer], and I worked with the city and also the union leadership to put in a bid. We came up with a great cost and saved the city money.”

Also at Monday’s meeting, High School in the Community rising junior Jonaily Colon was sworn in to her two-year term on the Board of Education.