Bridgeport School District leaders cite deep shortfall, weigh school closures and efficiency measures

Bridgeport School District leaders said the district faces a large structural funding gap and described a mix of efficiency measures and program changes being considered to close it.

The superintendent (Speaker 3) told officials the district is implementing 34 audit recommendations and working with two state technical-assistance teams to establish stronger checks and balances before new money is accepted. "Everything we do is about kids," the superintendent said, framing the work to tighten procedures and to expand in-district services for special education.

Why it matters: officials warned the district must both show it can use funds effectively and cut costs immediately. Speaker 4 said the statewide education funding formula (ECS) has left districts underfunded for years and that even a projected state foundation increase of about $18,000,000 could still require roughly $26,000,000 in local cuts for Bridgeport. "We are at doomsday," Speaker 4 said, warning of larger class sizes and the loss of assistant principals, librarians and counselors.

What officials are proposing: the superintendent outlined five priority tasks assigned by state reviewers — including special-education transportation and 1:1 supports — and said the district pays about $40,000,000 or more for out-of-district placements. He said that when the district builds in-district programs, it can seek to bring students back but that parents retain placement rights. "If we build programs ... you bet your that we're gonna bring kids back," the superintendent said.

Financial systems and controls: officials are rolling out more of the Munis financial and HR system; the superintendent said the district is using about 75% of Munis's current functionality and expects to add HR modules so requisitions, hiring and approvals flow electronically.

Sparing staff is unlikely: board and staff exchanges made clear that operational savings from closing buildings would not close the entire gap. In debate over closing three underused schools, participants said closing the buildings could save roughly $3,000,000 in operations (excluding personnel), while energy savings across schools might be about $8,000,000; those figures still fall far short of the total shortfall, raising the prospect of personnel reductions.

Cautions on special education: several speakers urged caution about trimming special-education services solely to cut costs. One participant reminded colleagues that past decisions had triggered state intervention, saying the district must avoid "tripping over the same feet we've been in before."

Next steps: officials said they will provide more details and data to the board; the superintendent and staff described continuing weekly meetings with state reviewers. The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn was made and seconded; no formal vote on specific cuts or layoff plans was taken during this session.

Funding figures and program counts cited at the meeting that were presented as estimates included: 34 audit recommendations to address; roughly $40,000,000 spent on out-of-district services; about 280 students in out-of-district placements; an estimated $3,000,000 in operational savings from closing three buildings (excluding personnel); estimated districtwide energy savings of about $8,000,000; and stated Munis usage of about 75% of current functionality.