Bridgeport board approves amendment to add Central High aquatics complex

The Bridgeport Board of Education on Tuesday voted to amend its 2026–27 capital plan to add an aquatics complex at Central High School and authorized staff to continue planning and negotiating terms with a private donor.

Chair Jennifer Perez opened a virtual special meeting and introduced the single agenda item, saying there were no public commenters. Facilities presenter Mister Garcia told the board the district’s share of the project would be about $2,328,346 and that the plan depends on a philanthropist donation estimated at roughly $8 million to $9 million. "This is a 20% share on a philanthropist donation of roughly 8 to $9,000,000 for a pool complex at the Central High School property," Garcia said.

Board members pressed for details on the design and operations. Garcia said the latest site rendition removes a splash pad, adds bleachers for competition and includes two multipurpose rooms, mechanical spaces, storage and a first-aid room. "There'll be an 8-lane pool, a zero-depth pool for youngsters, and bleachers on-site," he said.

Members raised governance and legal concerns before endorsing the amendment. One board member asked that any acceptance of private donor funds explicitly prohibit donor governance or operational authority and make donor conditions subordinate to the board’s statutory authority over district facilities. "The acceptance of any private donor funds prohibit donor governance or operational authority and expressly subordinate any donor conditions to the statutory authority of the Board of Education," the member said.

Garcia and board counsel said those protections would be written into memoranda of understanding and other documents. Counsel cautioned that an MOU differs from a lease or a management agreement and that formal legal instruments would be required for a project of this scale.

Board members also asked whether an outdoor pool would meet the district’s interscholastic-competition needs and whether seasonality or the removal of a softball field would raise Title IX issues. Garcia said the district’s indoor JFK facility could host winter competitions if necessary, and he said the team would survey the site and return with refined plans. Members flagged Title IX compliance and noted that the city, not the board, handles bonding for debt repayment.

After questions and clarification that the motion would only authorize further exploration and not finalize contracts, a board member moved to amend the capital plan for 2026–27 to include the aquatics facility; the motion was seconded and the board voted to approve it. Chair Perez announced, "That passes."

Garcia said he expected to present the project to the City Council on Saturday the 25th and that the district would distribute the updated site rendition after the meeting. Next steps include surveying the site, refining the plan, and returning to the board with proposed contractual vehicles — MOUs, leases or management agreements — and bidding documents for formal approval before any execution.

The board scheduled a public hearing at City Council Chambers and adjourned the special meeting.