Bridgeport board declares improperly approved employment contracts invalid after executive session

The Bridgeport Board of Education on Monday voted to declare employment contracts that were executed without the board’s required approval invalid and unenforceable, directing board counsel and the city attorney to notify impacted individuals.

The move followed an executive session called under Connecticut General Statutes and closed-door legal briefings on the validity of contracts. "I move to declare all employment contracts, tracks entered into without required board approval are invalid and unenforceable," said Board member Joseph Sikalovic while making the motion; it was seconded by Board member Roman Treiber. The motion passed with seven yes votes, one no vote (Board member Christine Betis Perez recorded a no), and one abstention (Board member Taheba Williams Bain), according to the roll call immediately after the vote.

The board’s action authorizes legal staff to take "appropriate steps, including notification of all impacted individuals," the motion said. Attorneys from the city and outside counsel attended the executive session and provided legal advice to the board before the vote.

Nut graf: The board’s move aims to undo contracts the panel concluded were not properly approved at public meetings and to ensure the district complies with state filing and transparency requirements for administrative contracts.

Board members said the step was necessary to bring the district into compliance with board rules and state law. In a separate, related action the board voted to request city or town clerk assistance in posting signed administrative contracts on the municipal website as required under Connecticut law; the board’s motion cited Senate Bill 1502 / Public Act 17-2, Section 157, which requires boards to file signed administrative personnel contracts with the town clerk.

In addition to the contracts vote, the board approved a procedural motion to create a superintendent search committee comprised of the full board (a committee of the whole). That motion passed 8–0 with one abstention recorded. The board also voted to table a separate agenda item labeled "Item B." The votes were taken after the executive session concluded.

Quotes and context

Board member Sikalovic framed the vote as a legal corrective: "I move to declare all employment contracts... invalid and unenforceable. Therefore, the board authorizes and directs board counsel and the city attorney to take appropriate steps, including notification of all impacted individuals." After the vote, the chair opened floor discussion on next steps for posting contracts and related transparency measures.

Several board members noted the board had not previously forwarded some contracts for required municipal filing and that posting those documents to the town clerk’s office would satisfy the statutory posting requirement. The board’s agenda cited the state statute by name during debate; board legal counsel confirmed that the district must file the contracts with the town clerk where the statute specifies that office.

Practical effects and next steps

Board counsel and the city attorney were authorized to proceed with notifications and other legal steps. The board also instructed the superintendent’s office and district staff to provide the signed contracts so they can be filed with the town clerk pursuant to the cited state law. The superintendent’s CFO was asked to present an updated budget timeline and gap-closure measures at upcoming finance and facilities committee meetings.

Ending: The board’s vote follows months of public scrutiny and internal review of district hiring and contracting. In an unexpected development at the meeting’s end, Board member Taheba Williams Bain announced she would submit a written resignation effective Jan. 28, 2025. The board did not take action on a replacement process at the meeting; members said they would schedule follow-up steps once the resignation is formalized in writing.