In-Person Special Meeting of the Bridgeport Board of Education Sat 10/24/2026

The Bridgeport Board of Education held an in-person special working session on October 24, 2026, with a presentation and strategic-prioritization exercise led by Dr. Michael Novak of the Council of Great City Schools. Novak said the council’s assistance carried no fee or expense. Board members identified obtaining full state funding as their top priority; discussion cited an estimated $40 million funding need and the risk of service reductions. They also discussed declining enrollment, a newly consolidated school, and the possibility that school closures or other district realignment decisions may be needed within the next 18 months. No contract award, procurement, or spending approval was identified.

Other priorities raised included changing district leadership and instructional culture, improving college/career readiness, and building a coalition to address inequitable state funding. The session concluded with a plan for the superintendent and staff to develop success measures and provide the board with quarterly progress reports on the prioritized initiatives. The only formal motion noted was to adjourn; no procurement-related vote was taken.