Bridgeport officials warn of deep cuts, push efficiency checks and Munis rollout
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Summary
The superintendent and board members said state underfunding and structural budget pressures could force major cuts, including personnel and program changes; officials outlined a 34-point audit workplan, broader use of the Munis financial system and possible school consolidations as options to reduce costs.
The superintendent of Bridgeport schools said the district faces substantial fiscal pressure and is working with two state technical-assistance teams to shore up internal financial controls, implement the Munis finance and HR system and act on 34 audit recommendations meant to prevent past deficiencies from recurring.
"We have 34 recommendations," the superintendent said, describing a process to assign ownership for each item and to put checks and balances in place so prior problems do not "rekindle themselves." The superintendent told the board the district currently uses Munis for payroll and benefits and expects to use roughly 75% of Munis's functionality soon as HR and finance workflows are linked.
Board members raised blunt questions about the scale of potential cuts. A committee member warned there is "no low hanging fruit" left and cited an illustrative scenario in which a change to the foundation/ECS funding could amount to roughly $18 million in revenue for Bridgeport yet still require about $26 million more in cuts, asking where reductions could be made without harming students. "Where do we cut as a district?" the member asked.
Officials repeatedly flagged special education and out-of-district placements as among the district's highest costs. The superintendent said the district pays approximately $40 million annually for several high-cost items including out-of-district placements and that about 280 students now receive services outside district programs. "When this district builds those programs ... we have every right to bring those kids back," the superintendent said, stressing that parents have a voice but district capacity matters in placement decisions.
Several board members urged aggressive efficiency measures. One member urged the board to consider closing or consolidating under-enrolled schools and classrooms — citing examples of rooms at about 40% capacity — to save millions on operations and maintenance. "If we could start closing some of these old buildings or start combining some of these classrooms that are half full ... then maybe they'll take into account the things that we have to cut in the future," a board member said.
Officials emphasized that state aid would likely be contingent on the district demonstrating internal efficiencies. The superintendent said state reviewers want to see the 34 recommendation items fixed and protocols in place before committing funds. The district plans to produce more detailed numbers and trend data on building operating costs, staffing levels and program savings scenarios at a future update.
The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn was made and seconded. The board said there will be no meeting on Monday and that additional details will be provided at a later date.
