BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Bridgeport Public Schools is reporting a budget gap of around $38 million.
The school district’s Finance and Facilities Committee met on Monday to discuss what caused the budget shortfall and determine what steps are necessary to overcome the financial challenge.
Acting Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery said in a release on Tuesday that the district’s priority is to ensure that its students continue to receive a high-quality education, as administrators work hard to solve the financial difficulties.
“While we foresee several cuts to the budget during the 2024-2025 school year, we intend to make as few changes to academics as possible, which includes staffing and programs. We are committed to transparency and will keep the community informed throughout this process,” Avery said.
During the meeting, the causes of the budget gap were addressed. According to the district, the budget for the 2024-2025 school year was adopted with a $26 million gap with plans to use $26 million from the district’s reserve. However, federal and state COVID funding has wrapped up, and special education costs have increased because of unfunded state and federal mandates.
The district says it is developing a plan to close the 2024-2025 gap and provide budget relief for the following year.
Immediate actions that will be taken include identifying ways to save during the current year to prevent the gap from increasing for the next school year. There is potential for downsizing and reevaluations of all positions, programs and services.
Bridgeport Public Schools also will use $14 million of the reserve during the current school year instead of $26 million. Additionally, $6.5 million in grants will be charged in accordance with the FY 24-25 state-approved grants budgets.
The district also plans to redivert its personnel and some programs to pre-COVID operation levels, which it estimates will save $10.3 million within the last six months of the current fiscal year. This should occur by next May.
Long term solutions include conducting a comprehensive review of the district’s financial practices to prevent future gaps and reducing the budget by $12 million for the 2025-2026 school year by reverting district personnel and some operation programming to pre-COVID levels.
Also, the district looks to explore the possibility of consolidating schools after completing a Facilities Master Plan and Demographics Study. It could bring Special Education services in-house, rather than sending students to programs outside of Bridgeport. This would require constructing a new and expanding Special Education school in the district.
“We understand the concerns this budget gap raises for our community. Our goal is to address this gap responsibly and sustainably,” the district’s Chief Financial Officer Nestor Nkwo said.
Next Monday, the district will share more details and updates on its plans to close the budget gap. One can click here to see the time, location and agenda, which will be shared by Friday.
“The Bridgeport school district remains dedicated to maintaining the quality of education and services provided to its students,” the release reads. “We appreciate the community’s support and understanding as we navigate this challenging situation. Together, we can overcome these financial hurdles and continue to provide a bright future for our students.”
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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