Racial Justice Coalition To Host School Funding Forum – Postponed

Editor’s note (5/1/2021): The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition has announced that their school funding forum has been postponed to a date to be announced.

The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition is planning a forum with Board of Education member, Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims, on school funding in New Britain.

“Let’s Talk: School Funding & Racial Justice,” the organization says, inviting people to the forum, planned to be held online on Saturday, May 1, 2021.

The event is planned for 1:00pm to 2:30pm, during which Dr. Sims is to discuss, “what’s currently going on in New Britain public schools and how it’s affecting youth of color.”

“New Britain Racial Justice Coalition (NBRJC) is currently fighting for the local government to invest in our youth in the city of New Britain,” the organization says. “For the past couple of years, local officials have been defunding our schools and it’s time to step up and advocate for our youth!”

Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has been criticized for repeatedly flat-funding the city’s funding for the operating budget of New Britain schools. As expected, she froze annual operating funds for New Britain schools in her budget for the city budget year that starts on July 1, 2021.

In inflation-adjusted 2014 dollars, Stewart’s budgeting has actually been a cut in the city’s funding for its schools over her eight years as mayor. That appears to now add up to a whopping $9 million education cut per year.

Event organizers say that those interested can sign up to attend the forum, to be held on Zoom at bit.ly/fundnbschools.