Daniel Zhao, Senior Photographer

On the Wednesday after Election Day, Stephen Staysniak asked his journalism class at Metropolitan Business Academy a question: would they like to continue the projects they had begun before the election, or focus their attention on the effects of the election’s outcome on their school? 

The class voted nearly unanimously to focus on the other stories in the community they had begun before the election.

“I thought that was really telling that they didn’t want to focus on that as the story that we’re going to tell about what’s important in our school right now,” Staysniak said. “It speaks to … how important it is to remind ourselves in times of uncertainty like this that there are a lot of things that are still within our immediate control in terms of how we care for each other in the communities that we have immediate access to.”

In the aftermath of former President Donald Trump’s reelection — an outcome opposed by almost 80 percent of New Haven voters — New Haven teachers, administrators and education advocates also remain focused on their school communities, even as they brace for the consequences of potentially dramatic changes to federal education policy. 

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to eliminate the Department of Education, a major source of funding and support for public schools nationwide. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy LAW ’13, Trump’s appointees to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, have expressed support for the proposal in recent weeks. 

Since the election, Trump has additionally doubled down on a promise to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, many of whom attend New Haven public schools. He also promised to limit gender-affirming care for minors and prevent transgender students from participating in women’s sports. 

Students in Staysniak’s classes expressed concern about the impact of Trump’s election on women’s healthcare access and the immigration status of their peers.

“While we are fully aware in New Haven Public Schools that we do have many families with mixed immigration status, those are things that are just generally not talked about that openly and now feels even less safe to do so,” Staysniak said. “There’s definitely a palpable sense of, ‘How is this going to impact our school community?’”

While Staysniak has yet to be approached by students fearing the personal repercussions of policy changes on immigration and abortion, he emphasized the importance of “validating” student concerns and addressing their immediate needs. 

Connecticut teachers, he said, are “fortunate” to have the support of state leaders whose “progressive policies” provide access to critical health and education services for undocumented students. 

Staysniak, who also serves on the executive board of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, expressed concern over the prospect of cuts to federal education funding, but made clear that the Federation’s priorities remain largely unchanged. In particular, he called for increased state funding for NHPS. 

“Public schools in New Haven and in cities across the country have always been underfunded. So the fight continues, and in some ways, the fight only intensifies,” he said. 

While Staysniak expressed skepticism about the feasibility of dismantling the Department of Education, he remains concerned that the new administration will cut federal funding. 

NHPS communications director Justin Harmon shared with the News a list of federal funding sources which NHPS relies on to support New Haven students. 

NHPS received over $24 million in the current fiscal year in grants from the Department of Education, according to Harmon. These include $12 million in Title I grants to support low-income students, $7.2 million in IDEA grants to support special education, $1.8 million in School Improvement Grants to boost student achievement, $3 million in Magnet Schools Assistance funds and $315,000 in grants to support programs for student learning outside of school. Most of these funds were administered by the state. 

NHPS also received a $5.8 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services for the Head Start early childhood education program. 

According to Lisa Hammersley, director of the School + State Finance Project, Connecticut schools spent around $1.1 billion in federal dollars in the most recent year, according to available data. That makes up around 8 percent of education funding statewide, and is an increase from the usual 4 percent or about $550 million. 

Hammersley expressed confidence that the title grants from the Department of Education, which make up the bulk of these funds, would be secure even if Trump attempted to dismantle the Department. The removal of any of these grants would require congressional approval. Hammersley is skeptical that Republicans in congress could muster the votes necessary to remove funds which directly support schools in their constituencies. 

“The department could be dismantled in name only and the grants could be moved to a different department for administration,” she said. “But ultimately, if those funds are eliminated, it would have a significant impact on districts across the state, primarily those districts that are higher-need student population and also lower wealth.”

As for concerns about federal attempts to influence curricula, most of the authority over curricula and programming is held by the state, Hammersley said. 

Michael Morton, deputy director for communications at the School + State Finance Project, anticipated the greatest impact on students would come from lax enforcement of federal statutes and guidelines protecting students with special educational needs, whether students with disabilities or multilingual students.

“Where you’ll see more of it be felt is in students or in communities that are already underrepresented or marginalized,” Morton said. “I don’t think they’re going to get as much support from the federal government as they would otherwise, particularly if the goal is to dismantle the department.” 

Staysniak and his colleagues at Metropolitan Business Academy were disheartened by Trump’s rhetoric on the campaign trail, but remain committed to working for students. 

“I remain deeply, profoundly hopeful to my core about the work that happens in New Haven  Public Schools and the amazing young people that we have in front of us,” Staysniak said.  

Metropolitan Business Academy is located at 115 Water St. in Wooster Square.