Some teachers to get job back at Hartford Public Schools

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Some teachers at Hartford Public Schools may no longer lose their jobs after the state agreed to give the district $10.5 million on Thursday.

Hartford Public Schools announced on Tuesday that a total of 387 jobs would be laid off next year due to budget cuts. However, now the school will re-look this number.

State lawmakers voted on Thursday to give the city another $5 million for schools. Plus, the city is coming up with another $5.5 million and will pay for school crossing guards.

“After plugging a $1.2 million deficit remaining in the board-approved budget and mitigating for 2023-24 budget challenges, we will invest the additional funding in retaining staff and resources most important to student success,” said a spokesperson for Hartford Public Schools. “That will likely include restoring some high school teaching positions to ensure our older students have access to varied course offerings.”

The video below is from News 8 at 6 p.m. on May 2.

The additional money will also help the district restore investments in social workers, social-emotional support services, early childhood literacy and community schools.

School officials said its too early to decide how many positions will be restored.

“Because the reinvestments have to be focused on responding to the needs of students, it is too early to comment on how many of our impacted staff might be retained, but those decisions will be our priority in the coming weeks,” said a spokesperson for Hartford Public Schools.

Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said this will bring enormous aid to the students.

“This is the beginning. It certainly doesn’t solve everything in Hartford schools but this is a commitment to working together to build strong schools for all of our kids,” said Arulampalam. “You have people on the state educators who understand education, and we know that education is the most vital tool that you have in a democracy.”

More than 380 positions were eliminated, including 156 teachers. School officials said 33 certified staff members and about 75 non-certified staff members received notice about the lay offs earlier this week.

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