Latinos Push On 2 Fronts For Equity

by Thomas Breen & Christopher Peak | Oct 29, 2019 8:10 am

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Posted to: City Hall, Labor, Schools, True Vote

Underrepresented from the school board to the superintendent’s cabinet to the classroom, Latinos are demanding a more visible place within the city’s school system, as they already make up nearly half the student body. That cry was heard at both ends of the city on Monday night, as protestors waved signs at a nomination hearing and the school board’s only Latina member walked out of a meeting in tears. Across the school district, there’s a mismatch between the demographics of the teaching faculty and student body. But Latinx students are least likely to have a teacher who looks like them. According to the numbers reported to the state, New Haven’s students are 46 percent Latinx (along with 37 percent Black and 13 percent white), yet its educators are only 9 percent Latinx (along with 15 percent Black and 73 percent white). That’s important because research indicates that a diverse teaching force is especially important for students of color. One study, for instance, said that black students growing up in poverty are more likely to finish high school and consider college if they have just one black teacher in elementary school. A growing concern about that reality led to the two dramas occurring simultaneously Monday night, at a Board of Education meeting and at a City Hall meeting of a Board of Alders committee. Appointee Showdown Two dozen protesters turned out at City Hall to oppose the nomination of Larry Conaway to the Board of Education—not because they had anything bad to say about the experienced local educator, but rather because Conaway is not Latino, while 46 percent of the city’s school children are. Parents, pastors, and former New Haven educators all associated with a group called the New Haven Latino Council voiced those concerns Monday night at the Aldermanic Affairs Committee hearing on the second floor of City Hall as well as at a pre-hearing press conference that took place on the building’s front steps. Led by Rev. Abraham Hernandez, the executive director of the state chapter of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the New Haven Latino Council protesters who spoke both outside and inside City Hall emphasized that they have no personal or professional beefs with Conaway, the recently retired former Riverside Academy principal who spent over three decades working in half a dozen city public schools. Rather, they argued, Conaway is not fit to serve on the school board because he is not Latino and does not speak Spanish. If the alders approve Mayor Toni Harp’s nomination of Conaway to replace Joseph Rodriguez, who recently resigned from his position, the protesters said, then they will simply be exacerbating a cultural, linguistic, and demographic disconnect between nearly half of the public schools’ student population and a seven-member Board of Education that has only one Latina member. “Can we have equity without representation?” Hernandez asked during the pre-hearing protest. Based on the two-sided demographic fact sheet and myriad complaints with Conaway’s nomination raised over the course of Monday’s press conference and hearing, that answer, according to at least this contingent of the city’s Latino population, is no. Ultimately, the committee alders did not vote at all on Conaway’s nomination—but purely for procedural reasons. The full Board of Alders has to vote on the nomination at its its next meeting on Nov. 7 or else the nomination will go through by default. The committee’s non-vote will allow the full board to discharge Conaway’s nomination from committee and take it up for a vote at that next meeting. Click here and here to download the New Haven Latino Council’s demographic fact sheets in both English and Spanish. Daniel Pizzaro, a spokesperson for the New Haven Latino Council, said that the demographic data cited in the fact sheet was provided by the New Haven Public Schools. According to the group, only 15 percent of its principals, 12 percent of its assistant principals, and 8 percent of its teachers are Latino. There is only one Latina Board of Education member, Yesenia Rivera, in comparison to four African-American board members and one white board member. Conaway is African-American. (The two non-voting student representatives, elected by their classmates, are Latino and Black.) “Education Has Been My Life” Conaway’s nomination hearing kicked off in an auspicious way for the former Riverside principal—with Aldermanic Affairs Committee Chair and Hill Alder Evelyn Rodriguez reading through the long list of jobs Conaway has held in the New Haven Public Schools system since 1987. That resume includes his time as a social worker at the Urban Youth Center, as the principal at the alternative schools New Light and Riverside, and, in between, as an administrator at Hyde, Hill Central, Lincoln Bassett, and Wilbur Cross. “This is very good in terms of the cohesiveness of what we could include on the Board of Education,” Rodriguez said in admiration. Born and raised in Georgia, Conaway said he’s been a resident of New Haven for the past 45 years. He came here to study at Southern Connecticut State University, and never left. He’s been married for 31 years and has four children, three of whom went through the New Haven Public Schools system. His second child is a teacher at Davis Street School right now, he said. “My goal is to continue what I’ve been doing for the past 35 years working with all families, all students, all diversity,” he said. “Education has been my life for the past 35 years, and this is way I’d like to volunteer my time.” Committee Vice-Chair and Quinnipiac Meadows Alder Gerald Antunes asked Conaway what type of person he would consider as the best fit to replace outgoing Superintendent Carol Birks as the head of the public school system. “I would look into a candidate who took into consideration all stakeholders,” he said. But, he added, “I’m looking for a person that really has students first.” Attending to the needs of teachers, parents, and community are all critical for a successful public school system, he said, but the needs of the students must come first. What would you focus on if confirmed to serve on the BOE? Antunes asked. What unique skills or perspective would your on-the-ground experience as a local educator and school administrator bring to the BOE? “Honesty, trust, and transparency,” he said. “I don’t have any magic bullet,” he said, “but I would bring my experience, my 35 years of experience, to the table.” Nodding to the two dozen protesters silently holding signs reading “Equity / Igualdad” and “We Want Equal Representation” towards the back of the Aldermanic Chambers, Fair Haven Alder Jose Crespo asked how Conaway would help Latino students in particular and beef up educational services for that growing population of the public student body. Conaway said he agrees with the sentiment behind the protesters’ calls and signs. “I think that there should be representation,” he said. “I think that’s something that has to be dealt with. I would support that full-heartedly.” When considering whom the school system should hire, as an administrator or an educator or any other kind of public school employee, he said, he will keep cultural and national and linguistic diversity as a “major priority.” “People Who Can Reflect Our Community” Several members of the public who testified Monday night spoke in favor of Conaway’s appointment, including Riverside parent advocate Joanne Wilcox (“He’s persistent as hell. He’s absolutely reasonable. And he, above all else, stays calm”) and current Riverside principal Derek Stephenson (“I haven’t met a man more committed to children and families”). A majority of the dozen public testimonies came in opposition. Rodriguez, in her role as chair, tried again and again to direct the commenters’ testimony towards Conaway as an individual appointee and not towards cultural and linguistic representation issues in the school system more broadly. But nearly every opponent to Conaway’s nomination sought to ground their testimony in context. “We need someone with knowledge and experience working with Latino students,” said Hernandez (pictured, at the pre-hearing protest). The board needs someone who understands what it’s like to go through an English Language Learner (ELL) program, he said. Someone who is culturally knowledgeable of where a plurality of students are coming from.

“This isn’t about Larry,” said Gil Traverso (pictured), a former assistant superintendent who left during Birks’ tenure. “But this is about effectively impacting the largest student population in the New Haven Public Schools. And this is about social justice.” Conaway is not Latino, he said. He is not bilingual. And the mayoral appointee has provided no evidence that he would be able to “bridge the gap between Latino parents and the school system.”

Former Board of Education member Carlos Torre (pictured, at the pre-hearing protest) said that many studies show that students thrive when they can identify with teachers and board members and supervisors and principals and other school administrators. “But if they are not representative of these students,” he said, “then students are hampered.” “In my 22 years” on the Board of Education, he said, “we’ve never had a question about equity. We do now.” Jessie Rivera (pictured) said that the city’s Latino student population does not have time to wait for a new board member who does not represent a plurality of the school system’s students and who does not have an immediate, specific plan for how to better engage the city’s Latino community. “He’s lived and he’s experienced his community,” she said. “We need people who can reflect our community.” While reticent to say anything negative about Conaway himself, Fair Haven Alders Ernie Santiago and Crespo alternated crossing to the other side of the committee’s table to take the mic and voice their own opposition to the mayor’s latest appointment. “This is not just a question about qualification, but also about equity,” Crespo said. “The person is indeed qualified, but we would like see the person not just qualified, but someone who can connect.” Santiago agreed. The mayor may have the power to appoint Board of Education members, he said. “But we have the power to oppose and block any appointment.” During the pre-hearing protest on the steps of City Hall, Hernandez and Torre said that the New Haven Latino Council had submitted a list of candidates they would like to see on the Board of Education, including Nitza Diaz, a consultant at the State Education Resource Center who co-chaired Birks’s transition team. They said those names were never seriously considered by the mayor, who appointed Conaway instead. “If you don’t have people there who understand the issues related to Latinos,” Torre said at the protest, “those issues are not going to be represented well.” Click on the Facebook Live video below to watch Monday’s pre-hearing protest on the front steps of City Hall. Recruiter Showdown Yesenia Rivera — the only Hispanic member left on the school board after Joey Rodriguez’s resignation — made a similar stand about the lack of Spanish speakers in the district’s main enrollment office. During Monday night’s regular Board of Education meeting at King-Robinson School, Rivera paused a vote on the superintendent’s personnel report, usually a routine matter that makes all the appointments, transfers, resignations and retirements from the past two weeks official. She asked the board to take a look at the bottom of third page, the 22nd of the 53 names in the blue-sheeted packet. That new hire — currently a marketing assistant at WOW! Creative Design Group, the firm that redesigned the city’s website and produced the school district’s calendars — needed the board’s approval to join a team of recruiters for the district’s magnet schools. That new hire isn’t a fluent Spanish speaker, even though her predecessor was, Rivera pointed out. That means that the district’s six-person enrollment office will have only two Spanish speakers: one other recruiter and one grants manager. Rivera said that staffing was “insufficient” for the number of Spanish-speaking families with kids in New Haven’s school system. After a heated back-and-forth, she made one last pitch to her fellow board members to hold off. “We need to make more of an effort in hiring staff that resemble the population of our students. When we talk about other groups, we make sure that happens,” Rivera said. “When you have a Spanish-speaking parent come to Central Office and they can’t find anyone to speak to them, that’s a problem. “That’s a systemic problem,” she continued. “The only personnel where Spanish-speaking people are represented is in the cafeterias and cleaning staff. We don’t think that’s a problem? It is in my mind. Our Spanish students what they see is not what they should be seeing. It was an issue when it was an African-American, and we made sure there was parity. Let’s do the same for our Spanish-speaking students.” Rivera stepped out of King Robinson’s auditorium, choking back tears. Another board member who’d sparred with her, Ed Joyner, also left out the other side. Before it got to that point, Lisa Mack, the district’s human resources director, said that the job was initially offered to an internal candidate who is bilingual, but that employee turned it down. Mack said that the job was then offered to the “most qualified” external candidate. “While we are working on trying to diversify the talent within the New Haven Public School district, this was the most qualified candidate in the pool,” she said. “I have to say, we look to the most qualified first. We cannot hire someone for ethnicity reasons, without having the most qualified skill set for that position.” But what did it mean to be the “most qualified”? Could that be assessed objectively? Especially when researchers have routinely documented racial discrimination in hiring? “That seems the answer I get from every position all around the school district — Central Office [administrators], principals, assistant principals, teachers — at every level,” Rivera said. “So I can’t believe that there are not more Spanish-speaking qualified candidates that are coming to the table.” Darnell Goldson, the board’s president, backed Rivera up, saying he also felt “uncomfortable” with justifying any hires as “the most qualified.” “Often times, that’s in the eye of the beholder, and the community that’s trying to break in are not going to be the beholders,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I fought for African-American hires and was told, ‘Well, we picked the most qualified person, and it just happened that it wasn’t the African-American.’ I know a lot of qualified people that didn’t get jobs.” One study from 15 years ago (that hasn’t been replicated since) showed applicants with identical résumés were more likely to get callbacks based on how “white” or “black” their name sounded, as “Emily” and “Greg” or “Lakisha” and “Jamal.” And another study showed employers were more likely to consider white felons than black non-offenders for a job. Saying that point was “well taken,” Mack still asked the board not to hold up on hiring this recruiter. She said that the district could try to find additional money to hire another Spanish-speaking employee in the enrollment office. “What I would rather happen is that we request to open another position,” Mack said. “We’re already a broke district. To say, ‘Okay, we’re going to hire this person, but let’s just throw in a token person who speaks Spanish,’ that doesn’t make sense,” Rivera interrupted. “We need to look a little harder, when we’re looking at candidates.” Other board members said they recognize the lack of diversity throughout the district too, but they said singling out individuals who’d already made it through the process wasn’t the right way to start creating the systemic change that the district needs. They said they worried about the legal ramifications of rescinding an offer. Joyner said that the board had repeatedly missed chances to deal with the issue of diversity, especially when it narrowly picked Birks as superintendent over another Spanish-speaking finalist. He said halting the recruiter’s hiring would be “political football” and “crying games,” remarks for which he later apologized. “We have chemistry and physics teachers that only speak English; we have all kinds of employees in the system that only speak English,” Joyner said. “Don’t get me wrong, we especially have to be able to communicate with parents in their language, and there ought to be someone in every single office in our district that can do that. It shouldn’t just be French and Spanish.” “We have to stop beating up on our staff because they chose the most qualified person. I hope you don’t want them to say, ‘We chose the least qualified person,’” he added. “Skin color has nothing to do with a person’s documented ability to reach out and teach people. We need to stop it.” After Rivera’s plea, the board put the recruiter’s appointment to a vote. Rivera and Goldson lost, 4-2, on a motion to table it until the next meeting. After that, they joined in unanimously approving the whole package. Iline Tracey, who was approved as interim superintendent at Monday’s meeting, said that she knows the district has work to do, after three top Latinx leaders — Abie Benitez, Gil Traverso and Madeline Negron — left the district while Birks was superintendent. “What happened? Where’s everybody?” Tracey said she asked at her first cabinet meeting, noticing that Pedro Mendía-Landa, who’s in charge of programs for English language learners, was the only Hispanic director left in Central Office. Tracey said she’s working with Mack on ways to diversify the district’s staff. She said she’s started by asking the state to use part of its multimillion-dollar Alliance grant to hire a recruiter who’d just focus on diversity. “We realize that we need to have a diverse staff among us,” Tracey told the board. “When I say diverse, it’s not necessarily just Latinos, but a diverse staff among us to represent our student body. They may speak Pashto. But whatever it is, we have to make a concerted effort to recruit and retain.”

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posted by: j03y1948 on October 29, 2019 8:47am As a youngster growing up in New Haven and attending New Haven schools, I can attest to the importance of students seeing their teachers as role models, including having teachers who look like them and share a common culture. My first teacher who was an Italian-American just like me was in the 6th grade. She was a role model for me; she took an interest in me as a person, having one-on-one talks to encourage me to do better; she built a trusting relationship with my family; she motivated me to strive to do my best; and, she treated every student as if they were her own children. I revere memories of her to this day and credit her for my decision to get a college education. I am not saying that those teachers who didn’t share my culture were not good teachers; some were, some were not. Having one teacher whose name ended in a vowel and spoke Italian was a positive turning point for me. Yes, students need to have teachers who look like them and share a common culture.

posted by: Checking on October 29, 2019 8:51am So, 3 of the 7 board members are now determined through election (mayor, two elected board spots) and because the Latino community has not worked through the political process to earn representation, they feel that it is somehow an affront if they do not get the vast majority of appointments? Also, I did not see a single black Latino as part of the demonstration. Why do they not practice what they demand?

posted by: JohnTulin on October 29, 2019 9:00am It is outrageous that Larry, a person of color but not the right color apparently, would not be considered qualified by some after spending many DECADES working with New Haven’s Hispanic students - at Cross, no less, the high school with one of the highest percentage of Hispanic students (I believe). Identity politics can lift up but it can also drag down. Sorry, after all your many years of service, that anyone would question your qualifications, Larry.

posted by: Wakeupnewhaven on October 29, 2019 9:36am Let me get this straight. New Haven is a SANCTUARY CITY but Latino folk discriminate against black nominees to the board of education? What am I missing?

posted by: 1644 on October 29, 2019 9:49am j03y1948: I am surprised that you had an Italian speaking teacher. Growing up in this area in the 1960’s and 1970’s, I knew lots of Italian-Americans. including about half of the public school teachers, but no one of working age spoke Italian. Most immigrants lack the education and certifications to be teachers, and their children generally lose fluency as they assimilate to or are born into an anglophone society. NHPS did make an effort to recruit Puerto Rican teachers, but that effort produced little.

posted by: ISeeRacism on October 29, 2019 9:51am Last night at the hearing or whatever that was - I thought I was at a Trump rally. Never heard such racism from the very people who are presumably against such filth. Thanks for reminding me about the thin line between Trump supporters and some “Latino voters”!

#ISeeRacism

posted by: Positivelove1980 on October 29, 2019 10:06am As a black person I get it! The Latinos want representation that mirrors their numbers. That’s fair. But why make the protest about Larry Conway? I’m sure he and his supporters recognize your concerns and will do whatever it takes to accommodate such concerns. Why so public?

posted by: tomisapain on October 29, 2019 10:43am I am confused. If representation is so important, then why wasn’t there a Latino candidate running against Joyner 2 years ago or Goldson now? Also, where was the outrage when Wilcox was nominated? While I understand it is important to have a staff and board reflective of the students’ demographics, I find it more important to have someone, regardless of race, willing to work with any student in order to prepare them for future success. It doesn’t make sense to me to attack an extremely qualified candidate like Larry Conaway because he is not Latino or speak Spanish especially since he has demonstrated over all of these years in New Haven to successfully work with any student. This is a silly move by these protesters. Who is the shot caller over there?

posted by: AverageTaxpayer on October 29, 2019 10:47am Ugly fallout from race-based, patronage politics. (I wonder what MLK would say…) No one is necessarily wrong here, but this deep into the 21st century, New Haven politics should evolve beyond this. So very sad.

posted by: TruthSetsUFree on October 29, 2019 10:53am With all due respect Mr. Breen & Peek (reporters of this article) your poll has it all wrong - The 1st Question shouldn’t be if candidate should merely be a Latino. It should read - “If qualified & competent Latino should’ve been overlooked”

My friends, my friends, my friends… Let’s call it for what it is… Mrs Diaz is an expert in Education & I respectfully is more qualified than Mr. Conaway. She works for SERC & has crisscrossed the state sharing best practices w/ School Superintendents, Principals, Teachers & even parents. The mayor didn’t appoint Mrs Diaz simply because she stated that she would have her vote on the Board as long as it served the best interests of ALL OF OUR KIDS. It’s when the mayor sacrificed her on the alter of political expediency & makes a politically calculated decision w/ no interest in maintaining “competency &equity;.” Saying in essence, the heck w/ the Hispanic Students who are under achieving. We don’t need an experienced candidate who has vast experience cause I can’t get her vote!!!! A person who would help RAISE the STANDARDS for ALL. When you see Mr. Carolina, Jefferson & Highsmith in the crowd it shouldn’t raise eyebrows??

posted by: RESIDENTE on October 29, 2019 11:19am When Latinos demand equity it’s called an act of Racism, when African Americans yell Racism it’s a call for equity. So what is it? This isn’t about Mr. Conaway or the color of his skin. No one at the meeting disparaged him in anyway. Quite the opposite. Everyone acknowledged his qualifications but made the case for equal representation. This is all the Mayor’s doing. Nepotism and Cronyism is destroying New Haven’s School system.

posted by: son of elm on October 29, 2019 11:36am This is a very sensitive issue that is going to require New-Haveners to unite as “Humans Beings” first in order to insure that each child has a person in front of them that genuinely cares for the well being of that child regardless of their race or gender. It is unfortunate that this city has become a toxic environment that has deterred some of our Latino brothers and sisters to continue their careers here. This is reflected by the loss of three top Latino leaders that left during the Birks administration that was spearheaded by our current mayor and School board president despite the fact that there was a more qualified bilingual applicant. The school board president is quoted in this article saying “I know a lot of qualified people that didn’t get jobs”. Is it because he had a birds eye view of these situations and maybe had a “hand in it” so to speak, illustrated in his advocacy of Dr. Birks. How ironic when he also states in this article that he felt uncomfortable with justifying any hires as the “most qualified”. Had he and the mayor had this mentality during the superintendent search they could have saved this city hundreds of thousands of dollars and prevented this fiasco and possibly held on to three top ranking Latino leaders maintaining Latino representation that existed which could have strengthened their presence rather than diminishing it. Diversity in any organization is extremely important and it starts at the top down that is why it is very important to organize and vote in this upcoming election. This current administration passed on a well qualified bilingual candidate for superintendent which served as a catalyst for the departure of three Latino leaders. These events combined with the untimely death (unfortunate precursor to current events) of the late great Daisy Gonzalez who served as the School Board President who was ultimately replaced by the current School Board president who had very big shoes to fill landed us where we are now.

posted by: Whatnow203? on October 29, 2019 12:02pm @thruthsetufree “When you see Mr. Carolina, Jefferson & Highsmith in the crowd it shouldn’t raise eyebrows??” What does that mean? And what does that have to do with the racism that was on full display last evening from the mostly Latino crowd. You are simply deflecting. I think most people who know those individuals you named and Mr. Conaway know that they are very good friends. So why wouldn’t they be “in the crowd?” particularly when their friend is under an unjustified and vicious attack? Mr. Conaway is lucky to have such friends who were there most likely to give him support and encouragement. He certainly needed it.

posted by: ElmCityVoice on October 29, 2019 12:14pm Can someone please remind me why Nitza Diaz was not considered? She’s make a great board member.

posted by: ISeeRacism on October 29, 2019 12:23pm Wait - prior to Conway getting the nod the Hispanic community chooses a candidate. The guy they choose is a not a citizen - so the mayor selects Conway and you’re mad at who?

This was a racist coordinated attack that happened at the city hall and at the board of education meeting.

posted by: Checking on October 29, 2019 12:32pm The fact that Nitza Diaz was the co-chair of Birks’ transition team should be enough to keep her way way away from the Board of Education. The transition was a disaster. Also, if Gil Traverso and Abby Benitez and Joey Rodriguez and Ivelisse Hernandez and Madeline Negron were all so committed to New Haven students, why did they all turn them backs on them and leave the district when it was clear that the superintendent was a very short timer?

posted by: Heather C. on October 29, 2019 12:34pm I attended school in New Haven in the 70’s and 80’s. I had good teachers and bad teachers of all colors and ethnicities. I also volunteered for awhile in the school system. I met principals who were black and white. A great educator is a great educator, but as a white kid in the system, it was important for me to see black and Hispanic teachers and principals. It was even more important to my black and Hispanic classmates. But what was most important was educators who were wonderful, well educated, passionate about their jobs, and who loved their students and fought for them to succeed. Some of my favorite teachers, Evelyn Maze, Gail Billingsley, Gail Staggers, Karen Wolf, favorite principals, Mrs Gaddison, Mrs Jeffie Frazier. They left me lasting impressions and helped me form my idea of what a great educator was and could be.

posted by: RESIDENTE on October 29, 2019 12:36pm @WhatNow203 to your response the answer is clear. The Fix is in! I’m calling it right now Highsmith is next in line for Superintendent. Again Nepotism and Cronyism has not made the New Haven Education system better. Case in point Birks, Mayor Harp’s sorority sister, desimated our schools. Now you want at it again. What happened to Kids First? Should that be changed to Homies first?

posted by: Whatnow203? on October 29, 2019 1:35pm If members of the Latino community are upset that the Mayor didn’t appoint another Latino, maybe they should remind themselves of the following: Board member Joey Rodriquez quit. Jamell Cotto initially announced he was running for a board seat against Joyner a couple of years ago but then…quit in order to be appointed to the seat (and his reappointment to the Board of Ed was rejected by the Board of Alders even though the Mayor re-nominated him). The Mayor nominated a Latino before Larry- someone recommended by the Latino leadership- but he could not meet the minimum qualifications to serve on the Board- the Latino leaders failed to vet him appropriately before recommending him. Gil Traverso was an Assistant Super who quit because he was afraid of Dr. Birks allegedly. Madeline Negron quit to work in another district. And as the icing on the cake, Ivelise Velazquez was DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT at a time when it was clear that Birks would be removed from her job- thereby opening an opportunity for a Latino- Velazquez- to slide right into the superintendency. So, before the Latino community screams injustice, perhaps they should get their own house in order and engage in a bit of self- reflection. Seems to me that they may be a bit hesitant to grab the reins of power, but stand at the ready to falsely yell racism while perpetuating racism themselves. And here’s some advice: there are three elected seats on the Board- organize politically and win them all if you can.

posted by: Wakeupnewhaven on October 29, 2019 1:44pm @TruthSetsUFree- Perhaps I overlooked this in your post but has this Ms. Diaz ever run a school? Being a consultant for a RESC doesn’t make one an expert, it makes one, well, a consultant. Those who have actually served as educators must see consultants and just laugh at them. Since when is anyone required to only choose candidates who the Latino community wants them to choose? Frankly, Cotto was a bust, and Rodriquez quit. As to your reference to Carolina, Jefferson, and Highsmith- none of whom are being nominated to the Board- I doubt you would question their integrity in person. And since there were other men there who aren’t Black, it doesn’t go unnoticed that you choose to make inferences about three black men- par for the course I guess with the comments made by those Latinos who attempted to impugn the character of Mr. Conaway last night. This probably ends any chance of Black-Brown unity in New Haven- and the Latino community has only itself to blame.

posted by: 1644 on October 29, 2019 2:58pm Whatnow203: Well said, although I don’t think we should blame those administrators for leaving. NHPS has been chaotic for years, with the chaos only increasing since Harries was deposed. Hispanic leaders were hardly the only staff members to leave NHPS under Birks. Anglo Will Clark decided he couldn’t take it anymore. An stand-out African American Principal left for Greenwich. An significantly above normal number of faculty decided to resign or retire.

Overall, from where I stand, it seems Hispanic and African-Americans exist in greater proportions in administration than they do in the faculty, meaning that NHPS does practice affirmative action in administrative hires and promotions.

posted by: LivingInNewHaven on October 29, 2019 3:14pm really revealing behavior by the latino contingent. I am disgusted. All of the top level latino educators left of their own choices! Aggressively trying to deny someone employment because they dont speak spanish is a civil rights issue. So, the lack of latino representation is who’s fault? Rodriguez turned his back on the latino residents when he resigned and left his seat up for replacement. He then hands the mayor an option that turns out to be nonviable! Ms Rivera should be careful because her performance at the BOE meeting was weak and did more to harm the latino presence than help it. I am all for diversity everywhere, but when blacks were fighing where were the latinos? there needs to be more dialogue and less useless confrontation.

posted by: Perspective on October 29, 2019 3:40pm I find it ironic one of the major criteria being ascribed to teach, administer and lead the school system is ‘someone who looks like you’ , meanwhile the NHPS is dismissing a woman of color. Shouldn’t competency, abilities and performance outweigh their physical attributes?

Also, if a bilingual person is needed, shouldn’t that have been a requirement of the position or at least given more weighting in the decision?

posted by: THREEFIFTHS on October 29, 2019 4:32pm posted by: Checking on October 29, 2019 8:51am Also, I did not see a single black Latino as part of the demonstration. Why do they not practice what they demand?



Who said they was not There?You need to read this. Afro-Latino is not about being black and Latino, Afro-Latina means to be a black Latina/Latino hence why the term Afro-Latino came about in the late ’70s,” she said. “Since Latino is not a race, it’s really not even an ethnic group, it is false to say that folks are black and Latino, we are racially black and then many refer to their ethnicity. i.e Afro-Boricua, Afro-Dominican. – ROSA CLEMENTE

Rosa Clemente: How I Came to Know and Appreciate My Blackness As An Afro-Latina Although I began to identify as an African descendant, it was not until I joined the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement in 2000 that I began to identify as Black, and identifying as such was not easy for me. In too many movement spaces, conscious gatherings and panels, I far too often was confronted and accused of selling out as a Latina. Without the mentorship of Marta and the late Richie Perez, as well as my comrades in the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement and others, I could not have navigated “conscious” movement and personal spaces that sought to take away my Blackness. I have identified myself as a Black Puerto Rican woman since 2001 and to this day, it is not easy. Although many Latinx* people, especially younger ones, are now identifying as Afro-Latinx, I often wonder if it is easier to embrace cultural identifications as opposed to embracing Blackness not only as phenotype but also as a political signifier. https://atlantablackstar.com/2017/02/23/rosa-clemente-how-came-know-appreciate-blackness-afro-latina/ I support Larry Conaway all the way.

posted by: 1644 on October 29, 2019 8:09pm Regarding the magnet school recruiter, why would Spanish fluency be required or even desired? I thought NHPS needed to recruit non-Hispanic whites to its magnet schools to increase diversity. If Hispanics are a plurality, NHPS doesn’t need to recruit them. Sure, Spanish fluency would be a big plus in other positions, such as Superintendent, principals, and front-line faculty, but I don’t the need with this position.

posted by: ElmCityVoice on October 29, 2019 9:26pm Three things. Mayor Harp should have waited for the election returns before identifying a new board member; it would have made this discussion much less about politics and more about community. Secondly, there are a lot of comments about diversity and parity in terms of teachers, administrators, etc. But the issue here is a member of the Board of Education. That position is of utmost importance. We’ve already seen how a divided Board impacts the school district. Third, Larry Conway is an excellent candidate; I’m sorry that he’s at the center of this controversy through no fault of his own.

posted by: owen@large on October 29, 2019 10:51pm Research and the accompanying data extracted from finely crafted studies must always be considered when making serious decisions about anything in life, particularly when it comes to education. I trust that educators of the same cultural background as their students can have positive results. I also trust experience more than any data from research studies, no matter how finely tuned that data may be. Every teacher I ever had through my many school years in North Carolina and then later in Connecticut were “judged” by myself and my educator parents by only one yardstick — Did the teacher make me a better student? Black, White, Latino, Asian, male, female, made no difference — Did the teacher make me a better student? I have experienced greatness, mediocrity and “time-wasting” across the educational rainbow of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Never did my family talk about or consider anything about my teachers, except their experience, their proficiency and their ability to motivate me. I admit I am biased with regard to Larry Conaway and his potential seat on the NHBOE. I had the distinct pleasure of working with him for many years. I know him to be honorable, intelligent, experienced, incredibly fair-minded’ and above all committed to making ALL NHPS students the best they can be. NHBOE and NHPS have made so many mistakes of late, let’s hope they don’t make another one by denying this fine gentleman his opportunity to help right the ship.

posted by: CityYankee on October 30, 2019 5:35am Racial and Identity politics at its “best”. The qualification for this job is melanin!!! Hey Dr. King!!! Too bad you gave up your life for people to be judged by the content of character; rather than the color of your skin!!! The new “majority” is as bad if not worse than the old!!!! Shame on the Latino Community! \ Poor New Haven. Maybe Yale SHOULD just buy us. That way, the REAL ELITES can own this manor; just like the Middle Ages!!!

posted by: 1644 on October 30, 2019 1:09pm The link in this article shows that Ms. Diaz ran for the BoE and was rejected by the voters of (half) of New Haven. Her opponent, Goldson, had a child at an independent school, but was open and willing to talk about why. Diaz refused to discuss with NHI why she rejected NHPS for her children.

posted by: not from NH on October 30, 2019 4:40pm It is interesting to note that the community is upset with Latinos because they are demanding what is fair. It is interesting to note that Dr. Tracey asked “what happened?” “where is everybody?” knowing that her colleagues were leaving. She was there when they left. Why did she not ask them? She knew what was going on. She chose to stay quiet. It is interesting to note that in Central Office, the majority of executive staff that left were Latinos. Is this something we should be worried about? Hmm… It is interesting to note that the Latino internal candidate was offered the position at the enrollment office and did not take it. Why? As outsider looking in, it definitely seems as if there is something in Central Office that is “impacting” Latinos. Why do we not ask them? The HR Person said that they would hire the most qualified person. I think that it is the way it should be done. But, New Haven has done a great job in bringing qualified African-American candidates but not Latino ones… Residents are blaming an ethnic group for asking about what is fair and equitable because the group who have the highest number of students is not represented.What is wrong with asking for equity?



There is also no representation in many of the other city departments. The city has also done a great job at attracting qualified African American candidates. The same effort that has been done to bring qualified African American candidates should be done for Latinos. People need to think of diversity beyond Black and White. Diversity is not about Black and White only. There are other ethnic groups as well. If the Board of Education truly wanted equitable representation, their actions would have demonstrated it a long time ago. It is not a new issue. The population of Latino students is about 47% Latinos and they are not represented fairly. The issues facing the Latino community are not the same as other communities. It is important to have multiple perspectives.

posted by: not from NH on October 30, 2019 4:44pm @ Wakeupnewhaven Nitza Diaz does not work for a RESC! She works for SERC. RESCs are Regional Educational Service Centers and SERC is not one of them.

posted by: Checking on October 30, 2019 5:10pm @not from NH How very entitled for you to think that demanding the majority of appointments is the only thing that is “fair?” If you are so interested, get off the couch and put in the work to get elected like the Mayor, Ed Joyner and Darnell Goldson did. Sitting on the sidelines, not putting in any work and crying foul is pathetic. You should want to actually put in some work on behalf of your kids. #stopthewhining

posted by: newhavenlives on October 30, 2019 5:10pm Not from New Haven

It is interesting to note that you all didn’t get your panties in a bunch until blacks started assuming some positions of influence in city hall. Don’t worry…. much of that will return to the “norm” with Toni Harp out of the way. Rather than scratch and claw to get a little piece of the proverbial pie from equally marginalized people, you would be wise to focus on the influential minority who truly hold power in this town. Here’s a hint, they don’t look like Nitza and they sure don’t look like Larry. “There are other ethnic groups as well”. Tell that to the people who think yall have monopolized immigration policy in this town.

posted by: Pablo’sMom on October 30, 2019 5:44pm Ms Diaz, as far as I know, has no classroom experience and her children attend private school. Surely the Latinx Community has someone better to suggest. An educator or someone who is a current parent of NHPS (or both!) would be preferable

posted by: owen@large on October 31, 2019 8:29am Unless there is a better, more qualified individual then Larry Conaway, be they Black, Latino, White, female or male, then “representation”, must take a back seat. New Haven, like most of the USA, has become so thoroughly tribal that it is amazing that it still functions at all. Diversity only in the service of Unity, Representation only in the service of Qualification, the Sum of the Parts only in the service of What Is Best for NHPS Kids.

posted by: George Polk on October 31, 2019 11:03am This is the problem with identity politics with a race for most favored minority statues. This isn’t headed for re-segregation this is heading towards apartide. How long until there is a demand for teachers to be fired because of the color (or lack of) their skin? Should the state and unions send them to the suburbs? Decades ago Whites identified and battled for power by culture, Italian, Irish, Polish etc. What they did have was schooled in A common language. I have to ask, how much have African-American children been hindered by duel language and academics being slowed by continued influx of Spanish speaking classmates? I state Spanish because Asian immigrants seem to have a different agenda.