New Haven’s newly launched After‑School Initiative, which serves more than 350 elementary and middle‑school students across 20 public schools, is confronting an uncertain funding future. Three weeks after the program began, the Board of Alders voted to halve the proposed $600,000 contract with New Haven Counts and to decline a vote on the $240,000 contract with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Haven.
Alders’ Decision Alters Contract Terms
During a September 21 meeting, aldermen unanimously approved a reduction of the New Haven Counts contract from $600,000 to $300,000 and shortened its term to end in October rather than December. The board also chose to “pass over” the Boys and Girls Club contract entirely, citing concerns about the original source of the funding.
Mayor Elicker had planned to fund both contracts with a $1 million allocation from the city’s general fund, originally earmarked for the New Haven Tutoring Initiative – a pandemic‑response program that provides twice‑weekly literacy and math tutoring.
Program Still Operating, but Parents May Feel Impact
Despite the budgetary setbacks, the after‑school program continues to operate. City spokesperson Lenny Speiller said the Boys and Girls Club is currently serving 146 kindergarten‑through‑fourth‑grade students, while New Haven Counts is working with 211 fifth‑through‑eighth‑grade students.
“We do not anticipate significant impacts to currently enrolled families at this time,” Speiller wrote in a statement. “We are committed to working with the Board of Alders to ensure uninterrupted after‑school and tutoring programming for children and families.”
Community Leaders Call for Continued Support
Tameika Miller, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Haven, expressed confidence that the city will honor its obligations. “I have every confidence that the City of New Haven will uphold their stated obligations to support a Boys and Girls Club after‑school program in their schools,” she said.
New Haven Counts did not provide comment for this story.
Funding Structure and Future Outlook
The program charges families $25 per week, with a waiver available for qualifying low‑income households. City Administrator Eliza Halsey told aldermen that the city budgeted $150 per student per month for each nonprofit partner, with a long‑term vision of enrolling up to 1,400 students.
Initial “bridge grants” helped launch the initiative: New Haven Counts received $24,999 and the Boys and Girls Club received $60,000 from a city grant previously administered to United Way of Greater New Haven. Because each grant was under the $100,000 threshold, they did not require full Board approval.
Mayor Elicker emphasized the program’s broader goals in a recent statement: “The New Haven After‑School Initiative builds on and expands the New Haven Tutoring Initiative. Tutoring is a core component of after‑school programming, and the initiative now also includes additional learning and enrichment activities as well as sports and physical activities.” He added that discussions with Alder Jeanette Morrison and community partners are ongoing to secure the necessary resources.
Alder Morrison’s Concerns
Alder Morrison, who championed the original tutoring initiative, argued that the Board did not vote for the after‑school program’s funding source. “Our legislative body said, ‘No, that is not the direction that was brought to us…’” she said. Morrison stressed the importance of keeping community‑based partners involved and urged the administration to find alternative funding for the Boys and Girls Club contract.
City officials continue to explore options, including potential reallocation of remaining general‑fund resources and additional bridge grants, to keep the program’s tutoring, homework help, athletics, and social‑emotional learning components running through the school year.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
