Bridgeport school superintendent says schools may close as part of efforts to better manage the district's overall resources
Dr.Carmela Levy-David says "everything is on the table" when it comes to funding available to provide students with quality education.
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The Bridgeport school superintendent says schools may need to be closed to ensure students get the best possible education.
Dr.Carmela Levy-David says "everything is on the table" when it comes to funding available to provide students with quality education.
"People need to expect that everything is on the table, and that means that we're not going to say, ‘Oh, we can't close schools,’” Levy-David said. “We may need to close some schools, we may need to make class sizes and student-teacher ratios smaller to address the real needs of what I think are shocking results."
Levy-David says she wants to reassure parents they will have a say in what ultimately happens.
"We are going to ensure that we maintain open communication with city government, with our parents and with everyone who is a stakeholder with students in Bridgeport," said Levy-David.
She said she presented her proposed budget for the upcoming school year to the Facilities & Finance Committee of the Bridgeport Board of Education.
Levy-David said she's asking state lawmakers for a total of $309 million, which would be up $41 million over last year.
She says the amount has remained the same for 10 years without regard to inflation or cost of living increases.
Levy-David said data shows 30% of Bridgeport students are meeting only minimum standards for reading.
"We now have to find a way to adjust," Levy-David said. "We have to really focus on instruction and that means that we have to use our resources in the classroom differently.”
