Tim Tai

As Election Day approaches, New Haven’s public school system is under heavy strain.

Education has become a key issue in the election. Mayor Justin Elicker has defended his efforts to support New Haven Public Schools as his Republican opponent, Steve Orosco, has attacked his record. Many voters and teachers’ union members have expressed support for the mayor’s approach, but some have voiced concerns about ongoing funding issues.

In June, a budget projections report revealed that the department was gearing up for up to 129 layoffs if more funds don’t materialize quickly.

Elm City Montessori School teacher Dave Weinreb described dilapidated buildings and extreme teacher shortages at the public schools.

“There are so many mold and facility issues in our buildings. They should be totally concerned that there are teachers that are not yet hired yet at this point of the year, that there are classrooms without enough substitute teachers,” he said.

For Weinreb, these issues reflect long-brewing questions about the Board of Education’s investment practices, institutional transparency and accountability.

But Weinreb, a member of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, expressed his shock at Orosco’s campaign.

“I plan to vote for Justin Elicker for sure. I cannot speak on behalf of NHFT broadly. I’m like, baffled and incensed that we have a MAGA Republican candidate that is being given any attention in our town. I appreciate a lot of the progressive and democratic values that Justin stands for, and absolutely see him as the stronger candidate for New Haven public schools in the election happening next week,” Weinreb said.

Elicker, who is seeking a third term, has made NHPS reform a fixture in his campaign.

“I see it firsthand. My wife’s and my two daughters go to New Haven Public Schools, and we see the love and passion and time and energy that our teachers put into our kids. And we also see the challenge with resources,” he said.

Orosco has proposed shifting away from mayoral appointment and towards elections for Board of Education members. The board consists of the mayor, four members appointed by the mayor and approved by the Board of Alders, two elected members and two non-voting student representatives.

Elicker has largely dismissed Orosco’s platform.

“He doesn’t have positions on anything. So it seems like a clear choice to me. But I think more importantly, we just need people to get out and vote, because this election is important, but there’s also a lot of elections coming up that are hugely important to the success of our city,” Elicker said. Elicker has previously opposed calls for more elected Board of Education members.

Still, not all left-leaning voters are totally sold on Elicker’s reelection.

Some progressives argue that Elicker’s moderate politics fall short when stacked against the issues faced by NHPS.

Lance Boos, a substitute teacher, joked that he would write in Leslie Blatteau, the union’s president, for mayor.

At a rally on Monday, Boos and fellow NHFT members called for a publicly elected Board of Education and a line-item budget that makes district spending more transparent to parents and taxpayers.

“I’d like to see there be more public input and voting for at least half the board candidates,” Boos said. “And I’d like to see transparency and accountability from the district. Why do we have so many assistant superintendents and all these positions downtown that never seem to be on the chopping block when there are budget cuts?”

Orosco, a businessman and political newcomer, has sought to tap into that same frustration, calling for the district to be independently audited and for spending to be redirected toward early childhood education, after-school tutoring and classroom staffing.

“Day one, we’ll tackle four things: early childhood education, reforming the board structure, auditing the budget, and providing after-school tutoring so kids can catch up,” Orosco said. 

Blatteau, the NHFT president, told the News on Thursday she was busy with contract negotiations all day and could not provide comment.

The New Haven Federation of Teachers was founded in 1946.

Sabrina Thaler contributed reporting.