The Connecticut State Board of Education (SBE) announced that it will intervene on behalf of the Bridgeport Public Schools (BPS) system in response to a number of concerns, such as the district’s $38 million budget gap, failure to meet state educational standards, and ever-changing leadership.
“Today’s action by the SBE is a pivotal moment in ensuring each of the 19,591 students in the BPS has the opportunity to succeed in learning, life, and work beyond school,” said Charlene Russell-Tucker, Commissioner of the State’s Department of Education (CSDE). “By collaborating with the local Board of Education, district leaders, educators, school staff and students, and the broader community, we maximize our ability to ensure that every child has the support they need to reach their full potential.”
The SBE announced that its interventions will “include, but are not limited to,” the embedding of a technical assistance team to work alongside BPS personnel to “guide district initiatives and report to the Commissioner,” the requirement Bridgeport’s Board of Education to undergo “operational efficiency and effectiveness” training, and the potential appointment of a district improvement officer for a term of up to one year. If appointed, the officer would be handpicked by Russell-Tucker herself. In addition, BPS will have to run by Russell-Tucker any potential superintendent candidates before their appointment.
The SBE said that the goals of these interventions would be “to address the stability of operations” in BPS, as well as to “improve student performance – with a focus on students receiving special education services – and address other needs in the district as deemed necessary.”
Per the SBE’s release, this decision was prompted by a presentation made to the SBE’s Accountability and Support Committee by the CSDE on January 9. During the meeting, Bridgeport Public School and Board of Education officials were asked how they intended to address the district’s budget deficit, while also providing a quality education to students, especially those with special needs. They were also asked what training was received on the topics of school finance, policy, and superintendent supervision and evaluation.
BPS first addressed its budget gap for the 2024-2025 school year in a statement released on November 19, 2024. The statement said the district had already anticipated a $26 million gap upon the adoption of their budget, and that officials intended to cover it using money from the district’s reserves and cost-cutting. It also attributed the gap to the end of COVID relief funding and rising special education costs, problems which have afflicted districts across the state. In December 2024, the district eliminated 45 positions in an attempt to right the deficit.
“Our priority is to ensure that our students continue to receive a high-quality education while we work diligently to resolve these financial issues,” said Dr. Royce Avery at the time, BPS’s acting superintendent. “While we foresee several cuts to the budget during the 2024-25 school year, we intend to make as few changes to academics as possible, which includes staffing and programs.”
SBE’s report of the Jan. 9 meeting outlined numerous problems in BPS’s management of its finances and educational obligations; failure to properly vet and internal disagreement surrounding the 2024-25 budget, failure to meet various state general education and special education standards, a growing number number of parent complaints surrounding special education, and a revolving door of superintendents.
“The CSDE addressed BPS’ history of change in its leadership, identifying that the BBE has employed five superintendents in the past seven years,” read the SBE’s report. “This has resulted in a lack of continuity in district leadership and adversely affected the district’s ability to implement, refine, and perpetuate a coherent vision.”
Russell-Tucker said that CSDE will “regularly brief the SBE on the progress of BPS,” and that SBE meeting going forward will “provide an opportunity for parents and families, students, and members of the school community to address the Board through public testimony on this action.”
Was this article helpful?
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
