Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said the move is a step towards getting the school system back on track.
HARTFORD, Conn. — The Hartford School Board gained five new members Wednesday after facing criticism from residents about the district's budget, the city announced.
Mayor Arunan Arulampalam made the appointments and spoke fondly of the outgoing board members, looking forward to bringing fresh energy, expertise and strategy to the city's school district to serve Hartford students. The statement emphasized that
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Last week, the city decided to send an additional $10.5 million in funding to Hartford schools to address the fiscal year 2025 budget shortfall, according to an announcement.
Arurampalam said in the release that Hartford's public education system is and will continue to be the foundation of the community's future success. He said the additions to the school board are a step toward getting the school back on the right track.
“I would like to thank those who will be leaving the board of directors. They have selflessly donated their time and energy to support Hartford schools,” Arurampalam said in the release. “I am confident that the new members of the Board of Directors will bring fresh energy and diverse perspectives to the important work ahead. I look forward to working with our members and all leaders in the city.”
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One of the new appointments to the board is Jennifer Hockenhull, director of finance for the Adult Congenital Heart Association. Hockenhull has extensive experience in financial management and budget oversight in his current role, according to the release. She previously served as her CFO/Director of Administration, Budget and Grants for the City of Hartford, where she oversaw the City's general fund budget and financial reporting.
Another performance manager, Corey Mills, has also been appointed. Mills, an employee of the city's Office of Chief Operating Officer, is committed to data-driven decision-making and strategic planning, the release said, and is an employee of the city's Office of Management, Budget and Grants. It is said that he has experience. State Legislature Appropriations Committee.
Ruth Reynolds Fortune is an associate attorney and board appointee at Wiggin and Dana, LLP. She specializes in estate planning and asset protection, according to the release. Her previous legal experience includes working at multiple law firms, where she focused on estate planning and immigration law.
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Another director appointed is Stephen Tatum, a retired educator and former president of the Hartford Federation of Teachers. Tatum is a former English teacher and department chair at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy, and has previously held leadership positions as secretary of the board of directors for the Hartford Federation of Teachers, according to the announcement.
Stephen Wilson, a project manager at Cyient, a technology company specializing in engineering, manufacturing, data analytics, networking, and operations, is a graduate of the University of Hartford and has experience in project management and planning management across a variety of industries. It means. release. He is also an appointee to the Board of Directors.
These appointments will be on the agenda of the May 13 City Council tribunal. The appointees will be interviewed at a special meeting of the council's Labor, Education, Workforce and Youth Development Committee, the release said, adding that the council is scheduled to vote on the appointments on May 28.
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer for FOX61 News. You can contact him at: dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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