The Bridgeport Board of Education heard a detailed presentation Oct. 27 from Public Works LLC, the firm the Connecticut State Department of Education has contracted to provide technical assistance addressing 34 recommendations identified in a recent forensic audit.

Dr. Joanne Cox, project lead for Public Works, told the board the team will collaborate with district staff, the state technical assistance team and CliftonLarsonAllen’s forensic audit findings to diagnose weaknesses in finance and human-resources processes, document standard operating procedures, and provide staff training. "We are going to be their right hand documenting this," said Betty Russell, a certified public accountant on the Public Works team.

Public Works outlined a discovery-and-diagnostic approach that includes a data-request list, interviews and process-mapping. The team said it will align HR planning with budgeting, strengthen internal controls, and establish a reporting calendar so the district and the board receive timely, accurate reports. Dr. Cox said the team will be on-site in Bridgeport Nov. 18–20 for interviews and process mapping and expects to conclude the engagement by June 30, 2026.

During Q&A, board members pressed the state and Public Works about funding and prior technical-assistance work. Deputy Commissioner Charles Hughes told the board the Public Works engagement is paid for from the commissioner of education’s operational budget, not from a separate $5 million the board discussed earlier. Several members also asked for transparency about earlier work by the four-person state technical assistance team and for public reports of that work.

Board members raised concerns that process changes alone cannot substitute for increased operating revenue. "You can't manage your way out of this crisis without funding," said Mr. Skelbeck, urging the consultants to set realistic expectations about savings. Public Works acknowledged that district underfunding is outside the scope of the engagement but said the team will look for efficiencies and document where gaps in controls or staffing exist.

Public Works representatives said their deliverables will include documented procedures for finance and HR, training materials, and monitoring measures to ensure recommended practices are implemented and sustained. The team described the work as collaborative and transparent and said it will provide periodic updates to the district and state.