Bridgeport Board posts application window, schedules interviews to fill vacant seat

The Bridgeport Board of Education on Jan. 29 approved posting a vacancy for the board seat left by Dr. Bay, setting an application deadline of Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. and scheduling candidate interviews for Feb. 11 at 6 p.m., with a backup interview date on Feb. 12 if more than 15 applicants apply.

Board Chair Jennifer Perez said the board would reuse the district’s previous vacancy posting as a template and change the dates. “There’s in your portal the vacancy posting from the last vacancy that happened, and we’re gonna use that as a template,” Perez said.

The action followed more than an hour of legal and procedural discussion about how long an appointee would serve and whether state authorities could or would intervene. Legal counsel, identified in the meeting as Mr. Anastasia, advised the board that the state has not asserted authority to fill the vacancy and would need to take additional steps to intervene. “State has no jurisdiction over filling this vacancy at this time. They would have to take additional action to intervene. I’ve seen no evidence of their desire to do that,” Anastasia said.

Some board members argued for an expedited schedule so the incoming member could complete state‑required training with the rest of the board; others urged using the full public application period to maximize community participation. Board member Robert Treiber said the accelerated timeline was consistent with the board’s prior practice for filling vacancies in 2023. “This is consistent with the schedules that we went through in previous fillings when we did this in the spring of ’23,” Treiber said. By contrast, board member Betsy Perez called the nine‑day window “a terrible idea” and said it risked the appearance of favoritism and limited public notice.

The motion to advertise the vacancy for nine days and hold interviews on Feb. 11 was seconded by a board member identified in the record as Mr. Medina and was approved by voice vote. The board announced that if more than 15 applicants apply, it will hold additional interviews on Feb. 12 and may hold a subsequent special meeting to make a final appointment.

Meeting discussion also reviewed applicable law and local rules. Counsel referenced the Connecticut General Statutes and the Bridgeport charter and district bylaw language that govern how long an appointed successor serves and when the 30‑day clock for filling a vacancy begins — the clock starts when a resignation letter is filed with the city clerk. The board was advised to monitor that timing to avoid ceding appointment authority to the mayor if the board does not act within the statutory period.

Next steps announced by the board: the superintendent’s office will post the vacancy on the district website and distribute the notice through media channels, and applications will be due Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. Interviews will begin Feb. 11 at 6 p.m., with Feb. 12 reserved only if more than 15 candidates apply. The board said it will schedule a meeting to decide the final appointment at a later date.

The appointment fills a seat that board members said will extend through the remainder of the current term; differing charter and bylaw provisions prompted discussion about whether an appointee serves only until the next municipal election or for the unexpired portion of the term.