New Haven Secretly Plans School’s For-Profit Takeover

Officials don’t want to let the public know about it yet, but they alerted staff and some parents at the Roberto Clemente Leadership Academy this week that they’re planning to turn over New Haven’s first school to a for-profit company.

School officials and representatives from Renaissance School Services, LLC, a Califon, N.J.-based school management company, met Thursday with parents in the K-8 school’s new building at 360 Columbus Ave. in the Hill. The meeting followed a similar one Monday, where staff at the school learned of changes afoot.

Clemente, which has been considered a failing school for nearly a decade, has been tapped as a “turnaround” school as part of the city’s new school reform effort. Schools Superintendent Reggie Mayo revealed in March that he was in talks with a company to manage Clemente in the fall.

New Haven school reform czar Garth Harries, who took part in the meetings this week, confirmed Monday that the district is talking to Renaissance about a possible “turnaround” at Clemente, but he said no contract has been signed. If the deal goes through, Clemente would become the first city school to be taken over by a for-profit entity.

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