In-Person Meeting of the Policy Committee Wed 9/9/2026

The Bridgeport Public Schools Policy Committee met on September 9, 2026, primarily to discuss and potentially approve revisions to the district's magnet school lottery policies and to consider the recognition of Eid al-Adha as an official school holiday. The committee reviewed a detailed presentation on the current lottery application and selection process, followed by a thorough discussion on proposed policy changes aimed at increasing transparency, equity, and accountability. Key procurement-related decisions included standardizing lottery policies across schools, limiting access to lottery modifications to a single designated person, and instituting annual reporting to certify lottery fairness. The committee also debated removing mandatory parental volunteer hour requirements from the policy, ultimately favoring encouragement rather than enforcement to reduce administrative burden and potential inequities. Additionally, the committee considered a motion to recommend the full board recognize Eid al-Adha as a school holiday, emphasizing inclusivity and equal treatment for Muslim students. The committee agreed to forward this recommendation to the full board for approval and discussed establishing a formal policy process for adding or modifying school holidays. No specific contract awards or procurement actions were taken during this meeting.