New Haven, Conn. – The New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) district announced Thursday that Dennis Tondalo, who was hired on August 24 as the inaugural director of facilities, has returned to his former role as building manager at Conte West Hills School. The change took effect on August 27, just two days after Tondalo’s first official day on the job.
District confirms the brief tenure
NHPS spokesperson Justin Harmon confirmed the development in an email comment, stating, “The incumbent returned to his former position on August 27. He does not wish to comment on his decision.” The district’s Board of Education had created the director of facilities position to expand in‑house management and reduce reliance on outside contractors.
Ongoing facilities challenges
The sudden vacancy comes at a time when NHPS is grappling with several serious infrastructure problems. Recent incidents include roof leaks at Hillhouse High School, flooding of four classrooms at Lincoln Bassett School that forced student relocations to Wexler Grant, and persistent issues with broken HVAC systems, mold, and rodent infestations across multiple schools. These conditions have heightened concerns among educators, parents, and union leaders about health and safety in the district’s buildings.
Reactions from district leaders and union
Superintendent Madeline Negrón praised Tondalo’s 15‑year tenure overseeing Conte facilities, noting that his decades of experience and leadership “equipped him well for being the lead for the district’s facilities department.” Board of Education members Andrea Downer and Edward Joyner also lauded his past work and personal character, expressing confidence that he would excel in the role.
Teachers union president Leslie Blatteau, however, expressed frustration that the union was not directly informed of Tondalo’s departure. “As the health and safety crisis in New Haven Public Schools continues, educators, students, union members, and families deserve to know who is at the helm,” Blatteau said. “If Mayor Elicker, Dr. Negrón, and the Board of Education are committed to transparency and collaboration, why wasn’t this personnel update shared at the recent Finance & Operations committee? What is the plan to ensure there is adequate staffing to address the dozens of health and safety violations in our schools? We need answers, not obfuscation.”
What’s next for the facilities department?
The district has not yet announced a replacement for the director of facilities position. In the interim, the responsibilities will likely be managed by existing staff while the board evaluates options for filling the role. District officials have emphasized their commitment to addressing the pressing infrastructure issues that affect students’ learning environments.
Community impact
Parents and community members have voiced concerns about the safety of school buildings, especially in light of recent leaks and flooding. The district’s effort to bring facilities management in‑house aims to provide faster, more accountable responses to such problems. The abrupt resignation of the newly appointed director raises questions about the stability of that strategy, but district leaders remain focused on delivering concrete improvements.
For further updates on the NHPS facilities situation and upcoming board meetings, residents are encouraged to follow the district’s official communications channels.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
