Mayor

Convocation Aims to Inspire, Motivate New Haven Public Schools Staff

Teachers and administrators with New Haven Public Schools gathered for a convocation on Tuesday, meant to inspire and motivate the staff ahead of another school year.

Inside the Floyd Little Athletic Center students performed, the teacher of the year, Rose Murphy, spoke and Mayor Toni Harp and Superintendent Carol Birks motivated teachers.

“Our goal is to make sure that we all continue to focus on student achievement. That is our priority. So we’re gearing up with music, dancing, big celebration to launch the year,” said Birks.

One of the district’s ongoing goals is to motivate students to attend school. Administrators have already canvassed neighborhoods, reminding parents and students about the start of school. Birks said they also have staff who focus on making sure students attend school throughout the year. This year they will be more intentional about maintaining attendance logs and drilling down on why students are not coming to school.

“It’s really important that you get into school, you stay in school, you go to school every single day the school is open,” said Mayor Toni Harp. “For people who grew up as I did, African American, we knew education was the one way out, it was the way out of poverty, it was the way to assure that when you finish that you could get a good job, that you could contribute to yourself, your community and your children and it’s still the same.”

Mayor Harp said the City of New Haven has been working hard with the school district to balance its budget.

The school district started with a $20 million dollar deficit when the school year started last year. Mayor Harp said it is now closer to $2 million.

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