Less than a month after announcing the largest budget deficit in Hartford Public Schools history, and after announcing the largest cut in HPS staff positions in HPS history, Superintendent Torres-Rodriguez has convinced outgoing board member Rigueur that now would be a good time to extend her contract for another year, until June of 2026.

With allegiances to the superintendent stronger than those to the district as a whole and to common sense, outgoing board member Rigueur has obliged the superintendent and has put the contract extension on the agenda for a vote at tomorrow’s (May 21st) Regular Public Meeting.

In December of 2016, on the eve of her being named permanent HPS Superintendent, the inexperienced Torres-Rodriguez stated that she understood “at a personal level what Hartford students need to succeed.”  Eight years later and HPS still ranks at or near the bottom of any academic ranking of Connecticut school districts. No matter what delusional arguments may be made for contract extension, the bottom line of schools is academics, and, in that context, Torres-Rodriguez has not performed as promised.

It would take a History Channel documentary to chronicle the failings of Superintendent Torres-Rodriguez, much of that darkness has been captured here.  Aside from academic and financial failings which can be measured and tracked, Torres-Rodriguez has created a culture and climate of distrust, fear, and toxicity, noted by the great exodus of teachers from the district over the past few years.  However, this dark culture and climate also extends to her very own people in central office, as a leaked internal survey captured in January.

While a “Nay” vote for extension is essential to the academic future of students of HPS, another line of thought states that this vote should not even take place.

Half of the BOE current members (three resigned late last year and early this year) are set to be replaced at the beginning of June.  It is wrong to take such an important action as you are walking out the door, forcing the incoming BOE members to work with someone who they did not select and who they may feel is not the right leader for HPS.  A clear, district minded BOE member must move to postpone this vote indefinitely and let the new members set the direction for HPS.

Also, the current board is three members short of a full load.  The board is statutorily made up of nine members to ensure that the full spectrum of community stakeholders is represented.  Absent a full board, highly important decisions such as retaining the superintendent might not accurately reflect the needs and concerns of the broader community.  The absence of a full board voting on such significant matters as this can raise questions about the legitimacy of the decision made.

Many voices came to the BOE to thwart the superintendent’s minions on that board to award her a bonus earlier this year.  Those voices are needed once more.  Those voices are needed to bring change to HPS!