From School Board Vice Chair Joe Sokolovic
If you don’t speak, we can’t listen.
The selection of the next Superintendent is one of the most important decisions outside of funding that affects the future of our school system. A Superintendent can make or break a district, by the priorities, and direction of the district he or she sets. This makes your input more important than ever.
Unfortunately, the initial general meetings had few people attending, most of whom have are political insiders already connected to the school system. That means many parents, residents, taxpayers, have not yet been heard.
More importantly, unlike past Superintendent searches, the public will not have a chance to meet the final candidates or ask them questions before a choice is made. We will do that behind closed doors. As a result, the listening sessions and survey are probably the only chance for members of the public to have their say about what qualities, priorities, and leadership characteristics sought in Bridgeport’s next Superintendent.
It doesn’t matter who you are. If you are a parent, student, educator, leader, taxpayer, or simply a concerned citizen, take advantage of what may be your only chance to help determine the future of Bridgeport Public Schools. Please do something, attend a session, participate online or simply complete the Thought Exchange survey before September 5.
Don’t let insiders speak for you. This is your city. If you want your priorities to be represented in the selection of the next Superintendent, now is the time to participate. Don’t let your voice go unheard.
Thank You!
Thought Exchange Survey
https://tejoin.com/scroll/367361454
Virtual Meeting Links
https://www.bridgeportedu.net/information/superintendent-search
Thanks Lennie.
Come on people, you cannot say we do not listen, if you do not speak. Now is likely your only chance of helping to decide what direction you want the district to take. Fill out the survey! Show up at a forum. Make your voices heard in real life.
Question: What’$ the co$t of thi$ National $earch for $chool $up?
I’m still waiting for the cost of the National Search for Chief of Police.
Talking about your Police Chief, Lennie! Apparently I am not the first ex Janitor Rodrick Porter screwed. I’m sure you’ve heard plenty regarding happenings connected to the B.P.D. The plot thickens!
About $39k if I’m not mistaken. However since the state delayed our search to the point that we couldn’t avail ourselves of the guaranted free search, the state is picking up the tab.
We have learned what it means when we have ideas that the community can benefit from and they fail to attend. I continue to advocate for CIVICS instruction and spoke briefly about how a CIVICS curriculum supervisor has not been put in place to guide the instruction to youths about why the study and pursuit of citizen rights and duties is critical to a City that has gone to sleep at elections with decreasing results from voters who believe personally that it is better to go voiceless and vote less than become informed and participate. That is one part of what the BOE controls, so fighting this struggle is important to a new Superintendent coming on board.
Keeping track of actual votes for issues that show up on agendas, and in minutes may also make it simpler to become informed on who, what and why is represented by decisions that are made by BOE representatives. It is not clear to the public, is it? A format for each vote’s purpose and how that deals with an issue that is important or procedural, can illustrate the serious nature of the process, and support trust in BOE actions. Time will tell.