The Board of Alders Education Committee outlined 16 high-priority actions aimed at addressing building hazards and improving accountability for repairs.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — New Haven city leaders are pushing school officials to address ongoing health and safety concerns in public school buildings, calling for improvements within the next 30 to 60 days.
In a new letter to the Board of Education, the Board of Alders Education Committee outlined 16 high-priority actions aimed at addressing building hazards and improving accountability for repairs. The recommendations include creating a public tracking system for building issues and establishing faster timelines for resolving safety concerns.
The call for action comes after continued concerns from parents, teachers, students and school advocates about conditions inside school buildings, including water leaks, mold, and pest infestations, just to name a few.
One New Haven parent, who asked not to be identified, said she has two children in the district and believes taxpayer money is not being used properly to improve schools.
“Our tax dollars are wasted. My son sits in 100 degree weather in his classroom with a fan during the summer.” The parent said. “So I mean, they could do anything they want with making whatever steps, but they’re never going to get anywhere.”
Among the committee’s proposed priorities are steps to improve indoor environmental conditions, including continuous indoor air quality monitoring and standards for temperature and humidity.
Despite the proposed measures, the parent told FOX 61 she does not feel confidence that the district will follow through.
“The only hope is to get rid of every single one of them and get new people on board that really care about our kids and not only just their health and well-being, but their education,” she said.
The Board of Alders Education Committee will discuss an update on the recommendations at its next meeting, scheduled for October 28.
Vallery Maravi is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at vmaravi@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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