Quick Takeover Of Bridgeport Public Schools

A former Bridgeport Board of Education president says he and many city residents were surprised by the state’s quick takeover of the troubled school system.  

Max Medina Jr. says in 16 years serving on Bridgeport’s Board of Education he’s never seen anything quite as speedy as the recent decision by the state to intervene in the city’s schools.

A public hearing was announced in Bridgeport  just before the July 4th holiday weekend, and within a week the State Education Commissioner had announced he’d replace the city’s entire elected school board with a state panel.  "..and given the stakes involved, the actual elimination of an entire elected Board of Education, I would have thought for purposes of transparency and democracy, they would have given that process a little more time than that."

Medina disagrees with the decision and says he’s not optimistic that a state takeover will improve things for city students, "….but as a Bridgeport homeowner and business owner and as a graduate of the Bridgeport public school system and the father of four kids who went through the Bridgeport public school system I’m going to cross my fingers and hope for the best."

Bridgeport’s board of education has struggled for years with gaping budget deficits and low test scores. When they were unable to pass a budget this year, the school board president, five members of the Bridgeport board, the superintendent and mayor all requested state intervention.

For WNPR, I'm Diane Orson.