Bridgeport Officials Announce School Funding Plan Ahead Of City Council Vote

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and City Council leaders announced a proposal to increase local funding for Bridgeport Public Schools by millions in the new fiscal year.

The proposal, developed in consultation with Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery and the city’s state legislative delegation, would also direct $10 million in new state aid from the Mohegan-Pequot Fund to the Board of Education.

Combined with a previously announced $15 million increase in state Educational Cost Sharing funding, the school district would receive a total of $35 million in additional funding next fiscal year through state and local contributions, city officials said.

Ganim described the proposal as the result of cooperation among city officials, state lawmakers and school leaders.

"We are doubling down on the new aid secured by our delegation in Hartford by putting our local resources to work for our biggest priority — our youth," Ganim said in a statement. He added the funding plan demonstrates support for district leadership as officials work to address challenges within the school system.

In a joint statement, City Council President Jeanette Herron and Budget Co-Chairs Ernie Newton II and Richard Ortiz said education remained the city’s top priority despite competing budget demands.

"We have many competing priorities as we craft the City budget, but none are more important than educating our children," the trio said. "Therefore, we are redirecting our new state aid to the school system, as well as significantly increasing our local commitment to the BOE. We will make this commitment while also supporting the largest mill rate drop in the City’s history."

State Rep. Christopher Rosario, chair of the Bridgeport legislative delegation, said lawmakers had secured $25 million in state aid for the district and praised city officials for increasing local investment in public schools.

"The Bridgeport delegation is proud to have delivered a historic $25 million in state aid that will help the Bridgeport Public Schools," Rosario said. "On behalf of the delegation, I am encouraged to see the City of Bridgeport, through the leadership of the Mayor and City Council, also make historic investments in our public schools. We look forward to continuing to work in strong partnership with the City and Board of Education to ensure that every child in Bridgeport had access to a high quality education."

Avery said the additional funding would help preserve jobs and avoid cuts that could significantly affect district operations.

"I am extremely pleased to have the strong support of Mayor Ganim, the delegation, and Council members as we work to improve our school district," Avery said. "This new state and local aid will save many essential jobs and prevent us from making decisions that would devastate our school system. I look forward to continuing this partnership in the years to come as we continue to make progress and reform district operations."

The proposal is scheduled to go before the City Council’s Budget and Appropriations Committee before advancing to the full council for a final vote Tuesday evening.