Finance committee weighs delaying elimination of central office and administrative positions

The Bridgeport School District finance committee on June 4 discussed postponing the elimination of eight administrative positions included in the fiscal 2025–26 proposed budget so the district can accommodate expected retirements and preserve short‑term administrative capacity.

The item matters because the positions are part of the district’s plan to close a budget gap; delaying eliminations would reduce immediate savings but may avoid additional costs and preserve staffing while several long‑tenured administrators plan to retire later in the school year.

“Through the chair, I wanted to make sure I give the board an update of what’s happening regarding the central office paid to non positions. I have worked with Nestor to kind of quantify calculate for the savings that we have regarding those positions,” Dr. Avery said, asking the committee to consider moving the discussion to the full board so the district can present finalized figures. Dr. Avery said a small number of positions remain unsettled because of ongoing HR and legal work and that he expects the details to be more solid by the board’s Monday meeting.

Budget staff explained how “bumping” and retirements change the net savings calculation. Nestor, a finance staff member, summarized the district’s calculation: when an administrator moves back into a classroom position and displaces a long‑term substitute, the district can realize about $46,000 in net savings per year for that vacancy. Nestor characterized the $46,000 figure as an approximate annual net effect for one long‑term substitute.

Board members pressed for certainty about retirements and paperwork. Mister Jimenez asked whether written resignation or retirement notices exist; Dr. Avery replied, “We do not have a written confirmation of that, but just a verbal confirmation of those retirements,” and said he would circle back with HR to get clearer timing. Committee members also noted that delaying eliminations from now until June 2026 would yield only modest direct savings in some cases (one staff estimate cited about $8,000), while other offsets from bumping rights could materially increase the net savings.

The discussion distinguished three separate outcomes: topics for further consideration (a proposed delay of eliminations until June 2026), direction for staff to finalize and present numbers at the full board meeting, and no formal action taken by the committee on June 4. No motion to adopt a postponement was recorded; the item was scheduled for fuller discussion and a possible referral when the board meets.

The committee expects a full breakdown of the positions, the anticipated retirements and the final savings calculations at the board meeting scheduled for Monday; until the board acts, the eliminations remain part of the proposed FY2025–26 budget.