Superintendent: state technical‑assistance teams are working through 34 audit recommendations; board pushes for clarity on funding shortfall
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Avery told the Instructional Support Services Committee that two Connecticut State Department of Education technical‑assistance teams are addressing 34 forensic‑audit recommendations and are expected to finish by June; board members pressed the state to state on the record whether Bridgeport is underfunded and asked staff to request missing reports.
Superintendent Dr. Avery updated the Instructional Support Services Committee on March 25 that two Connecticut Department of Education technical‑assistance teams — an on‑site team and a virtual follow‑up team — have been working with Bridgeport to revise processes and implement 34 recommendations arising from a forensic audit. He said the teams have been on site for months and that he expects the work to be summarized for the board by June.
The superintendent characterized the first team as "boots on the ground" assisting with special education, transportation and daily operations and said the second, virtual team is focused on process and procedural manuals across HR, finance, budgeting and purchasing. "At the end of this process — hopefully by June — we'll have special‑education manuals and process materials to work through with staff," he said.
Board members asked several follow‑ups, including when the district would receive a promised Team‑1 report. Dr. Avery said he and Board Chair Jennifer Perez would request the outstanding report again; he noted Team‑1 will be back in the district Friday and he will follow up with the deputy commissioner.
The discussion sharpened when a board member raised a public funding claim, saying the district remains underfunded and citing a shortfall figure during remarks. Dr. Avery said the technical teams had not publicly characterized the district as underfunded for him or his team and recommended inviting state officials to present fiscal findings on the record. "If the board wants them to appear before us, we will make that request," he said.
Several members asked for a checklist or timeline showing progress on the 34 recommendations and requested that staff bring a fuller update to the full board. Dr. Avery said some policy items would be brought to the board and policy committee over the following weeks so the district can meet the June target for completing the teams' work.
Next steps: the superintendent will request any missing Team‑1 report, coordinate with Board Chair Jennifer Perez on formal requests to the deputy commissioner, and prepare a fuller board update summarizing the teams' work and remaining policy items.
