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Board prepares talking points for Hartford appropriations hearing, stresses special‑education and equity funding
Summary
Superintendent and board members discussed talking points and coordinated testimony for an Appropriations Committee public hearing in Hartford, emphasizing underfunding for special education, bilingual services and the need to adjust the state funding formula; staff will circulate draft testimony for board members to use or adapt.
Bridgeport’s superintendent and board members prepared talking points and coordinated plans for testimony at an Appropriations Committee public hearing in Hartford about the governor’s education budget proposals.
Superintendent Dr. Avery explained the district’s priorities and supplied data the board asked to use in testimony. He emphasized the district’s size and special needs profile: the district serves roughly 19,000 to 19,700 students, and he said approximately half of students receive either special‑education or bilingual services. He described a long‑standing funding gap and urged advocacy for increased excess‑cost reimbursement and a revision of the state funding formula to reflect urban district needs.
Board members discussed practical details: how to sign up to testify (the hearing had hybrid sign‑up options), whether to submit written testimony for committee packets and how to personalize oral remarks. The superintendent and staff offered to help board members draft testimony and provide supporting charts and historic trend data. Members committed to appearing in Hartford and to submitting written testimony if they could not attend in person.
Key points discussed for testimony included: underfunding of special education (the superintendent cited a shortfall in excess‑cost reimbursement compared with formula targets), the district’s bilingual population and related staffing needs, a comparison with better‑funded districts (members suggested using Greenwich and Hartford comparisons in talking points), and the risk that a flat or delayed funding approach would force further cuts to personnel and programs.
The board also discussed statewide fiscal context — including references to state “guardrails” and surplus amounts discussed publicly — and possible coalition strategies with other large districts. Staff will circulate a consolidated draft of talking points and the superintendent’s data to the board for final edits and distribution ahead of the hearing.
What’s next: Board members plan to sign up for testimony or submit written testimony; staff and superintendent will circulate finalized talking points and supporting documents so board members speak from a coordinated set of facts and requests in Hartford.
