Since 2016, Bridgeport’s public school district has been forced to cut over 243 essential staff and support positions. During that time, Mayor Ganim has offered our 20,000 public school students, on average, only a 0.6% increase in funding – and flat funded education in 5 out of 8 years. By refusing to merely keep up with inflation, we have essentially cut over $40 million in value from our public schools. And this is on top of already being among the municipalities that contributes the least per pupil to public education. 

This year, Mayor Ganim proposed a $2 million increase towards our public schools yet Bridgeport students needed 6 times that amount. We know from public polling that Bridgeport voters citywide want to see education funding made a top priority. Voters consistently rank public education as their top issue, yet it consistently ranks at the bottom of our budget priorities. When will Bridgeport’s elected officials listen to our voices?

On Monday night, City Council passed their version of the budget with amendments. They made some good appropriation increases, specifically funding a legislative aide to support their work and fully funding the Fair Rent Commission. They were, however, only able to find $500,000 more for education. This is unacceptable. As stated in the Connecticut Post, “that is still far from the $12.4 million education officials had sought as students, according to recent data, are well-behind in math and reading proficiency.” 

Chart from Bridgeport Public School’s 2023 Budget Presentation, outlining the cuts the district has been forced to make during these years of divestment.

Not all folks on Council supported such a small increase. Councilman Fred Hodges (136th District) said during Monday’s vote that “$500,000 is far short of what we need here in Bridgeport,” arguing that “the school to prison pipeline is real.” Council Rep. Jorge Cruz (131st District) announced that “we are failing the education department,” while Council Rep. Jeanette Herron (133rd District) noted that the number of students needing ESL services has “doubled in some of our schools.”

Despite these voices, there clearly wasn’t enough leadership or political will on Council to set a new budget, a city budget that puts education as a top priority. As Council Rep. Tyler Mack (131st District) stated to Hearst Media “One of our major goals should be to continue to improve the education system here, because once education is improved a lot of growth happens afterwards.”

“One of our major goals should be to continue to improve the education system here, because once education is improved a lot of growth happens afterwards.”

Council Rep. Tyler Mack, 131st District

Council Rep. Mack is correct that smart economic development strategies are ones that include strengthening public education. Strong public schools not only create healthier communities, but also increase property values and attract new residents and families. Yet, City Council seems stuck between the chicken and the egg. Council Rep. Ernie Newton (139th District) noted “until we’re able to grow our tax base [$500,000] is what we’re working with.”

Well, Ganim has had 8 years to try and grow our tax base with little to no success. Perhaps divesting from education is not the smartest economic development strategy. Certainly, his administration’s problems with public corruption continue to stand in the way of private investment flowing into Bridgeport. 

This week, Mayor Ganim announced that he’s planning to hold his second groundbreaking for the new Bassick High School [how someone can have 2 groundbreakings for the same project is a topic for a later post]. He is going to celebrate a new high school building, while simultaneously giving the students, teachers, and families inside that building less and less each year. That is the definition of insanity, and this insanity must end. 

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