Educators and residents urge New Britain council to preserve Sandra Sanford’s career-pathways role amid budget gap

Community members spoke at the council’s May 13 public comment period to press the city to protect Sandra Sanford’s position as district coordinator of career pathways and community partnerships.

"Nobody has done more for our academies and our pathways at the high school than Sandra Sanford," said Chris Conant, a teacher at New Britain High School, adding that Sanford has helped the district secure internships, guest speakers and hands-on learning. Conant told the council Sanford has raised "over 1,000,000 dollars" in outside funds to upgrade academy facilities.

Christina Hart, a math instructional coach at Chamberlain Elementary, urged the council to "fully fund the superintendent's budget so instructional coaching can continue," noting that elementary math proficiency in the district rose from 7% to 19% over the past three years and that coaches run multiple daily intervention groups.

Sandra Sanford described the scope of her work and outcomes she attributed to the academies. "Students in the academies have a higher graduation rate — we're averaging in over 93 percent, while the high school average is 72 percent," Sanford said, listing industry-recognized credentials, dual-enrollment credits and work-based learning partnerships as program strengths.

Several speakers tied those program gains to Sanford’s work. "To eliminate Mrs. Sanford's position . . . would be like eliminating the goose that lays the golden eggs," said Kevin Schubert, who runs the high school's auto shop. Angel Delfonso, a retired Chamber of Commerce official, invited council members to tour the academies and see graduation results firsthand.

Resident Desiree Costa offered a specific funding proposal: "I'm asking this council to increase the MBR by $2,000,000 and to utilize $2,000,000 from reserves to close the remaining gap," she said, characterizing the cuts on the table as now targeting essential roles rather than "fluff." Costa and other speakers warned that deeper cuts would expand class sizes and reduce student supports.

Council members responded that they appreciated the testimony. The chair summarized the fiscal context presented to the council: New Britain has received a $13,200,000 increase in state education aid (an 18% increase) and the mayor’s proposed budget raises the municipal budget reference (MBR). The chair also reminded the public that personnel decisions for the schools are made by the superintendent and the Board of Education.

"Please know that myself and the minority caucus are putting in some work to make suggestions to the majority caucus to hopefully help answer that call for the funding that is needed," Alderman Smethly said.

What’s next: the council voted on a number of routine agenda items after public comment; councilors said they will continue budget deliberations and that school staffing recommendations remain under the Board of Education’s authority.