Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bridgeport board tables donor-backed pool proposal for Central High after members raise process and use concerns
Summary
District staff proposed adding an $8 million-plus donor-funded outdoor pool at Central High School to the 2026–27 capital plan; board members raised questions about property use, loss of athletic space, operating responsibility and timing and voted to table the amendment for committee review.
Bridgeport — The Bridgeport Board of Education put on hold a proposal to add a donor-funded outdoor pool complex at Central High School after members voiced concern about the project's timing, site impacts, ownership and operations.
District staff described a plan in which the Brandt Foundation would donate roughly $8 million toward a six- to eight-lane outdoor pool and facilities, with the district or city expected to provide a roughly 20% match. "The Brandt Foundation would like to do an endowment long-term to pay the operating costs," said George Garcia, who presented site plans and cost estimates to the board.
Several board members questioned why the project appeared in the district's capital plan rather than the city's capital plan and expressed concern about removing a softball field and other playing surfaces. "This appears to be a partnership between the City of Bridgeport and Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, which I have no idea why it's coming through our capital plan," board member Mr. Sokalovic said.
City legal counsel Mark Anastasi told the board that while title to the property rests with the city, usage of district property and any third-party arrangements would require board approvals and formal memoranda of understanding to preserve school priority use. "To the extent we're talking about property currently dedicated or utilized for school purposes, unless the Board of Ed determines and votes that they no longer want to use that property for school purposes, the city does not have unilateral authority to act," Anastasi said.
After extended debate about process, liability, winter usability of an outdoor pool and the donor's timeline, a motion to table the capital-plan amendment and refer it for committee review passed on a roll-call vote. Board members emphasized that tabling the item would remove it from the current capital-calendar push and require further committee work before any council request or contract approval.
The board asked staff to prepare more detailed memoranda of understanding, usage guarantees, cost and operations models, and to return to committee and the full board with clarified documents. The donor's timeline and whether the city would approve a 20% match remain outstanding questions.
No construction contract was awarded at the meeting; the item will return for further review.
