Finance committee forwards multiple budget-cut proposals to full board amid a $23M-plus gap

The Bridgeport Board of Education Finance Committee heard a lengthy budget briefing and voted to forward several proposed cost-saving measures to the full board on Thursday as district leaders try to close a projected operating shortfall for fiscal year 2025'26.

District finance staff presented a February financial update and a set of proposed "gap-closing" options. The staff and committee described a multi-step plan that includes reductions in contracted services, adjustments to overtime, and changes to positions funded by one-time grants. Committee members repeatedly said the district must find millions of dollars to balance the budget despite earlier-year federal and city support.

Three items the committee moved to the full board were among the evening's most contested:

- The committee voted to refer to the full board a proposal to eliminate 2-to-1 kindergarten paraprofessional coverage funded through a third-party agency (referred to as "Delta" in the meeting). Staff said the existing temporary reinstatement was funded with one-time dollars and must be cut if sustainable funding cannot be found.

- The committee approved forwarding a proposal to eliminate 11 restorative-practices facilitator positions (previously…