Maya McFadden Photo
State Dept of Ed's Erik Clemons and Felicia Canty came to listen.
Dozens of Common Ground High School’s community members expressed support for the school’s state renewal while a handful said the renewal should be granted only if the school agrees to make administrative improvements.
Nearly 100 community members turned out for the socially justice-themed charter high school’s state renewal public hearing held Tuesday evening at the school’s campus on Springside Avenue.
The majority of more than 30 speakers expressed their support for the school’s renewal to representatives of the Connecticut State Department of Education, who have the final say in the school’s future.
Those in attendance ranged from former and current students, parents, staffers, local partners, and community members who have participated in Common Ground’s public programming.
High School Director Cherry Pacquette-Emmanuel: "I am truly excited for what the future holds for our students."
The public hearing was moderated by state Board of Ed member Erik Clemons and the Dept. of Education Charter School Liaison Felicia Canty.
The school’s charter (which allows outside of union rules and some other requirements of traditional public schools) was last renewed by the state in March 2020. The official charter is set to expire this spring and must be renewed for the high school to operate next school year.
The state can grant renewals for up to five years at a time.
At the start of Tuesday’s hearing, after attendees were provided dinner, Clemons said the key indicators the state will consider during the renewal process are whether the school has been faithful to its mission; has demonstrated academic progress; has satisfied parents, students, and community members; has strong and consistent management; and has sought to reduce racial and economic barriers.
“Felicia and I are here to listen to you,” Clemons said to kick off the testimony part of the hearing.
For up to three minutes each, several of the speakers referred to the school as a special place, a safe haven, and an oasis of opportunity and knowledge for students, families, staff, and community.
City government Director of Climate & Sustainability Steven Winter and State Rep. Toni Walker pointed out that since Common Ground’s start in 1997, its environmental and social justice work has begun on the campus and then extended into the broader New Haven community. For decades it has offered green skills and job exposure to youth and built capacity for change in the city, they said.
Walker, whose husband served on the school’s board 25 years ago, said the school’s charter renewal is critical.
Members of the school’s board of directors highlighted that Common Ground’s 225 students represent 21 cities, one third of last year’s total student body took college courses, and 100 percent of students are engaged in expanded learning opportunities outside of the school campus.
Parents said their students have developed close, family-like relationships with Common Group staffers.
One parent, Yexandra Diaz, said her son and daughter have found a second home at Common Ground after her son dealt with violence at Hamden High School. Another parent said New Haven Public Schools failed her son. She said if her son went to Wilbur Cross, as she did years ago, her son would have become a statistic.
David Weinreb.
Elm City Montessori Magnet Resource Teacher David Weinreb, who has been an educator for nine years, said he and his middle school students over the years have benefited from nearby Common Ground partnerships like a schoolyard habitats program. At Elm City Montessori, Weinreb said, Common Ground wrote and stewarded a Teaching Our Cities and Schoolyards grant to provide coaching and guidance to establish a school green team.
He described the school as a “radiant haven for environmental justice” while also expressing concerns about the school’s high staff turnover over the past three years, unaddressed LGBTQ-centered harm, low staff morale, and a lack of substitutes for absent teachers.
He continued: “I’m grateful for so much of what Common Ground is for all of us out here, but I hope that this charter renewal process helps them to reflect on their responsibility to the educators and students within their community and helps them get resources necessary to strengthen the wellness of their community so that everyone is able to thrive.”
Cye Gonzalez.
Freshman Cye Gonzalez, 15, said he attended Common Ground’s summer camp to become more familiar with the school before first arriving. As a trans student, Gonzalez said, he wasn’t sure the school would be safe. But when one of the first questions he was asked in his classes was about his pronouns, he said, “I was included.”
He said he’s felt respect from teachers, love from peers, and protection from staff since day one.
He concluded that despite having been called slurs in the past and outed by educators at other institutions, that hasn’t been the case at Common Ground. The school has provided him with a place where “I can hold my head up high.”
Toward the end of Tuesday’s meeting, four attendees raised concerns about the school’s renewal. Most recited high staff turnover of veteran and beloved educators in recent years.
This topic was also taken up during the school’s monthly Board of Directors meeting Monday afternoon. Several former and current staffers raised specific concerns about the termination of former Student Support Manager Victor Rios. Rios was fired this school year on Oct. 17; a dozen staffers at Monday’s meeting shared their disappointment in his firing as he was described as a lifeline for students for the past seven years.
Gloria Little, the mother of a Common Ground junior, expressed support for the school’s renewal. Her daughter Joy followed her remarks by saying she too supports the renewal but “only if they’re willing to make changes and solve problems here” in the near future.
“I do love Common Ground,” she said, but said the school needs to improve.
“The greatest teachers we have here, their contracts were terminated,” she said and explained that the turnover of staff made her go through seven different guidance teachers.
Last year, she said, she didn’t get a proper education for her science class because she had to deal with the five different teachers.
Tuesday’s meeting concluded after two hours of public testimony from 34 speakers.
State leaders advised community members to continue to send the Dept of Ed written testimonies regarding the charter renewal up until the decision date, which is March 6 at the state Dept of Education’s regular meeting.
Additional testimony should be emailed to Felicia.Canty@ct.gov.
Amanda Byam Photo
Tuesday’s meeting on Common Ground campus.