Students and community urge New London School District to retain wellness interventionists

Public speakers at the New London Board of Education’s April 29 meeting urged the district to reinstate wellness interventionist positions, arguing the roles provide critical social-emotional support and free teachers to focus on instruction. Jadelise Garrett told the board the positions have ‘‘improved the district in a variety of ways’’ and help students focus on learning despite fiscal constraints, which she acknowledged the district faces.

Several other residents and student advocates reinforced Garrett’s point. Danielle Bergh said her graduate research shows a higher need for social-emotional teams in marginalized communities and described a conversation with her fourth-grade child about the importance of the position. Maya Sheppard said young people have been meeting with officials and noted City Council recently approved a $1.9 million increase; she urged the board to act on students’ advocacy.

C.J. Parker, who said he was hired last summer in Baltimore as a student wellness specialist, told the board that Baltimore is expanding its wellness staff and that New London faces similar needs: ‘‘Roughly 12% of the student population is homeless,’’ he said, and he estimated the city’s poverty rate at about 25 percent. Parker urged the board to keep the existing wellness interventionists in place.

Shaleah Higgins and Jacob Epps said the wellness interventionists often serve as mentors or parent figures and provide supports teachers do not have time to offer. Epps also raised concerns about pandemic-era socialization losses and long-term impacts on students’ interpersonal development.

Board members thanked the students and staff who spoke and acknowledged the issue’s importance. Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Ritchie and board leaders noted budget constraints discussed in a recent Special Meeting; no vote or formal direction to restore positions was recorded at the April 29 session. The speakers requested further consideration and continued collaboration with district leadership.