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Interim superintendent says Bridgeport needs $44.1 million to preserve services as special-ed and multilingual costs climb
Summary
Interim Superintendent Dr. Avery presented a FY2026–27 budget that would increase the district’s request by $44.1 million (14.9%), citing steep rises in special‑education and multilingual‑learner costs and urging community advocacy and clearer state funding; the board scheduled deeper deliberations and outreach forums.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Avery on Wednesday laid out a proposed fiscal‑year 2026–27 operating budget for Bridgeport Public Schools that he said is aimed at preserving services rather than expanding administration. "Again, overall, this is a story, a story of chronic underfunding," he told the board, framing the request around rising student needs and mandated costs.
Dr. Avery and CFO Nestor Nucor said the district faces major cost drivers that cannot be addressed solely with restricted grant funding: special‑education expenditures rose by more than $30 million between fiscal 2021 and 2025, and multilingual‑learner (MLL) enrollment grew roughly 51 percent over five years. Transportation costs are also rising: Nucor said bus expenditures increased from about $28.6 million in…
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