New Haven Teachers Dispute District's Rising Absence Narrative

New Haven Teachers Challenge District on Rising Absences, Cite Vacancies and Low Pay

New Haven Public Schools teachers are publicly pushing back on how the district has characterized its rising teacher absence problem, arguing that 70 unfilled teaching positions and uncompetitive salaries — not individual conduct — are driving the numbers higher.

Approximately 180 of the district's 1,900 teachers are absent on any given school day, a rate of about 9 percent, according to figures presented to the Board of Education Finance & Operations Committee. The number has risen from an average of 167 daily absences during the 2023–24 school year.

Budget Response: Substitute Costs Climbing

In February, district CFO Amilcar Hernandez announced a proposal to increase the substitute teacher budget from $1.13 million to $2.13 million for the next fiscal year — a $1 million increase — citing the need to cover the higher daily absence load.

The proposal came as the district is tracking to spend $1.7 million over its current substitute budget this year. Hernandez told the Finance & Operations Committee that "there has been an increase of absences by our teachers throughout the district."

Teachers: Vacancies Are the Real Problem

Educators and advocates have challenged that framing, pointing to the district's 70 unfilled teaching positions as a major driver of substitute costs. At $100 per day over 180 school days, those vacancies alone account for roughly $1.26 million in substitute expenditures — meaning most of the proposed budget increase stems from permanent staffing shortages rather than employee sick leave.

Veteran Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School teacher Theresa Purdie testified at a Board of Education meeting that salary inequities and health insurance costs are pushing educators out. "Teachers in New Haven earn thousands less than colleagues in nearby towns while also paying more for basic medical care," Purdie said.

Purdie and others argued that the district's response — adding substitute funding — addresses the symptom without targeting the underlying staffing crisis.

Union and Superintendent Response

Superintendent Madeline Negrón has acknowledged the rising absence and vacancy numbers. New Haven Federation of Teachers President Leslie Blatteau declined to comment publicly on the elevated absence rates.

The district has not released a breakdown of absence types — such as FMLA leave, sick leave, or position vacancies — that would allow a more precise analysis of what is driving the daily numbers. Teachers have said that the absence of this data makes it difficult to craft targeted solutions.

Substitute Pay and Contracts

NHPS employed an estimated 120 substitute teachers last school year, according to the New Haven Federation of Teachers. Substitutes work under a collective bargaining agreement approved by the Board of Alders in July 2025, covering the period from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2027. The contract includes annual 3 percent raises.

Teachers have argued that substitute pay remains low compared to neighboring districts, though the district has not released comparative pay data publicly.

Context: A Broader Staffing Debate

The dispute over how to count and respond to teacher absences reflects a broader debate about working conditions in urban public school systems. New Haven, with approximately 21,000 students across more than 40 schools, has faced ongoing recruitment and retention challenges.

Teacher contract negotiations have been a recurring point of contention. Educators have previously testified at Board of Education meetings about health insurance costs, calling for more affordable options as a retention tool.

The proposed $2.13 million substitute budget will require approval as part of the district's overall fiscal year budget process. No date for a final vote has been announced.

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