Bridgeport board authorizes state‑funded superintendent search and approves search‑firm contract with amendments

At the June 24 special meeting, the Bridgeport Board of Education authorized the chair to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Connecticut State Department of Education that will fund a superintendent search so the cost does not come from district funds.

A motion to authorize the chair to sign the agreement was moved and seconded and the chair announced she would sign the document that evening after the vote.

The board then considered a separate item: a professional services agreement with Veil Education Group (the search contractor named in meeting discussion). Board members proposed and agreed on two substantive amendments before voting to approve the contract: language specifying that the named lead consultant (identified in the proposal as the principal consultant) "shall be assisted by contractor staff identified in the proposal" only "upon consultation with and approval by the board," and a clarified timeline clause requiring the contractor to begin work no later than July 15, 2026, and to complete services no later than Dec. 1, 2026, with the board retaining the option to extend for follow‑on services.

One board member summarized the timing proposal: "We put in the start will be not later than 07/15/2026. The work will be completed not later than 12/01/2026, and that'll appear in both the last sentence..." The board then approved the contract as amended by voice vote.

Board actions recorded in the meeting transcript: • Motion to authorize the chair to sign the memorandum of agreement with the state (motion carried by voice vote). • Motion to approve the agreement with Veil Education Group as presented and amended (motion carried by voice vote).

The superintendent search and the contract timeline are now set in motion; the board and staff said they will coordinate next steps, including advertisement drafting and consultant onboarding, consistent with the approved timeline.