Bridgeport board votes to request $106 million increase for FY2026–27 operating budget after extended debate

The Bridgeport Board of Education voted Feb. 9 to request an additional $106,000,000 in its FY2026–27 operating budget, a placeholder request the board will submit to the city’s Munis portal as part of a coordinated push for state and local funding.

Board members and district staff framed the request as an attempt to recover positions and services eliminated over the last decade. Superintendent Dr. Avery told the board the district had prepared a catalog of positions and programs that were cut and a budget-advocacy manual to help residents submit testimony to the state: “We have a budget advocacy manual that we’re gonna be putting out,” Dr. Avery said, adding that the district will provide templates and a QR code to make it easier for parents, principals and staff to send testimony to legislators.

The discussion centered on line items intended to restore instructional coaches, academic interventionists, librarians, school psychologists and expanded before- and after-school programming. Board member Joe Sokolovic, who introduced the initial draft request, urged ambitious advocacy: “If we don’t ask for what we deserve, we will never get it,” he said, arguing the district should press the state to adjust the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula after 13 years without an increase.

Mister Traber, chair of the advocacy ad hoc committee, described the short legislative session and urged community testimony at the Appropriations Committee education subcommittee public hearing scheduled Feb. 17. “We need action now,” he told the board, urging members and residents to sign up for testimony and to use the district’s multilingual supports.

Board members debated how much to ask the city to include in its budget and how to apportion the request between city and state sources. Staff clarified that some funds the district seeks could come through state alliance or ECS changes, while other elements would come from the city if state aid does not materialize. The board considered several proposed totals (including $102 million and $103 million) before amending the motion to a $106,000,000 increase.

The motion as amended passed in the board’s vote. The chair and staff emphasized this is a request and a starting point: if the state provides substantial additional funding the board can revise its ask and the ultimate adopted budget before the fiscal-year deadline.

What passed will now be transmitted to the city as a formal additional operating request; the board also plans continued advocacy at the state level and to prepare contingency scenarios for a range of funding outcomes. Next procedural steps include submitting testimony for the Appropriations hearing on Feb. 17 and returning to the board for any required budget adoption or amendment later in the spring.