Connecticut often ranks among the wealthiest and most well-resourced states in the nation. We pride ourselves on strong schools, thriving communities, and endless opportunity. But there is a glaring contradiction at the heart of our state —one we can no longer ignore.

In our capital city of Hartford, the public school system is facing a projected two-year deficit exceeding $70 million. This is not a new crisis. Hartford Public Schools have endured years of deep cuts—hundreds of millions of dollars stripped from staffing, programming, and essential student supports.

What we are witnessing now is not a sudden collapse, but the predictable result of long-term disinvestment.

Into this reality stepped Superintendent Andraé Townsel, who arrived from Maryland to lead a system already under immense strain. He did not create this crisis —he inherited it! And it is critical that we say this clearly: Dr. Townsel is not part of the entrenched problems, the years of neglect, or any internal power structure that contributed to this decline. He represents something Hartford has not had in some time —a fresh set of eyes, an outside perspective, and a leader with a proven track record of turning around challenged school systems.

Yet instead of being equipped to lead meaningful change, he is being placed in an impossible position —tasked with fixing a system with an empty toolbox.

At the same time, Hartford’s mayor has declined to step in with meaningful financial support, even as the district struggles to maintain basic services. This inaction sends a troubling message —not just to Hartford’s students and families, but to the entire state: that the well-being of children in our capital is negotiable.

It is not.

As a social worker, I have seen firsthand what happens when systems fail children. Schools are not just places of learning —they are environments of safety, stability, and opportunity. When we strip them of resources, we are not just cutting budgets. We are cutting children’s futures!

We must ask ourselves a difficult but necessary question: How can Connecticut claim to be moving forward if we cannot adequately support the very children who will lead our future —especially those in our own capital?

This is not about Hartford alone. This is not just an “urban issue.” This is a Connecticut issue! When the capital city’s schools are underfunded and overwhelmed, it reflects a broader failure of priorities at the state level.

Our children should not be forced to “get by” on the bare minimum. They should not be navigating overcrowded classrooms, reduced supports, and shrinking opportunities.

They should not just “survive”, they deserve to thrive!

And if we are serious about that goal, then we must also be serious about leadership. We cannot expect results from new leadership while withholding the very tools required to succeed. If Dr. Townsel is to deliver on the promise of reform and renewal, then Connecticut must give him the resources, support, and partnership necessary to do the job.

Connecticut must act —decisively and collectively. That means increased state investment, honest financial transparency, and a shared commitment between city and state leadership to prioritize children over politics.

Because when we fail Hartford’s children, we are not just failing a city.

We are failing Connecticut!

And that is something none of us can afford.

Michael C. Marshall of Montville is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a member of the Windham Task Force to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect and of the National Association of Social Workers – Connecticut Chapter.