Interesting and intense negotiations going on between Bridgeport and Trumbull for the proposed building of a $125 million regional magnet school in Fairchild Memorial Park in Trumbull.
Shortly after Mayor Bill Finch became mayor in 2007 he called Trumbull a “bucolic town with no problems.” It was just one of Finch’s many befuddling declarations. An amazing statement from a pol who had represented Trumbull in the State Senate for seven years. He wasn’t calling Trumbull a bucolic town with no problems while coveting Trumbull voters. It never occurred to Finch he’d have to negotiate a whole set of issues with Trumbull from school construction to a regional sewer authority. Well that bucolic town is negotiating hard against the city to make sure it receives its pound of flesh for being the host community of the school. The relationship between Finch and Trumbull officials became so strained that Bridgeport hired former Republican State Senator Rob Russo to serve as an information bridge between the two communities. Democratic mayoral candidate John Gomes says Finch will sell the store to get this project done. Here’s Gomes’ take on the subject.
From John Gomes:
Wrong Time, Wrong Place, Wrong Magnet School
It is a small miracle for Bridgeport taxpayers that a decision involving a multi-town magnet school by the Trumbull Planning and Zoning Department has been deferred.
Hopefully we can use this time to alert Bridgeport taxpayers as to the real long-term cost involved in this project.
Trumbull P and Z was scheduled to vote this past Wednesday (February 16) on a special permit to use Fairchild Memorial Park as the future site for a multi-town magnet school. (Seven towns.)
Because the State of Connecticut has available funds to promote multi-town magnet schools, the Mayor of Bridgeport wants to grab the money without thinking what the long-term costs are to his City taxpayers. This is a questionable decision at best, as the City of Bridgeport right now is burdened with a staggering budget deficit and currently has some of the lowest achieving public schools in Connecticut.
But this is not deterring the Mayor, who is trying to buy the support of surrounding towns with extraordinary promises, such as fully funding the tuition of 120 Trumbull students for at least five years, if not more. This could amount to seven million dollars or more. That’s a pretty generous promise knowing that 23,000 students in Bridgeport truly need better funding. This promise to Trumbull represents a wrongful use of Bridgeport taxpayer dollars.
No answer has yet been given how the City will provide and pay for the number of teachers required for the proposed multi-town magnet school. The crisis in funding teacher salaries in Bridgeport this year was resolved with one-time-only infusion of Federal Government Stimulus funds.
Will the proposed multi-town magnet school have staff at the new buildings while classrooms in Bridgeport have no teachers?
Additional promises from the City include provision of the staffing and all other cost associated with public safety at the proposed school, as well as providing the staffing and all other costs associated with the public works needed at the school. The proposed site is on nine acres of land, with a 208,000 sq. ft. building. Over the long term, this could certainly amount to more millions to the Bridgeport taxpayer.
These are two enormous long-term costs to the Bridgeport taxpayer. There are yet to be discussed many more costs to Bridgeport taxpayers that make this project a potential spending nightmare
The Mayor fully expects his six hand-picked members of the nine-person Board of Education to rubber stamp his efforts, including the newest member, Tom Mulligan, who replaces Pat Crossin, This is the same Tom Mulligan who admits he’s “not attended a school board meeting in years.” Exactly the kind of Board member that Bill Finch wants, but City taxpayers do not need.
We are in a crisis economy in Bridgeport. A lot has changed in the five years since this particular multi-town magnet school project began and the reality is that today’s reality dictates we look for ways to save and not incur further.
While there are plenty of parents who would appreciate something better than what is currently offered as education in the City of Bridgeport, we cannot be saddled with the horrific debt this particular project will engender as proposed.
How many specialized High Schools are we going to build for and in Bridgeport? We have the Aqua Culture School, the new Science high school on Upper Park Ave and now they want to build this regional high school in Trumbull but Bridgeport will pay the bills for this school.
We have 2 high schools, Harding & Bassick that are falling apart and in really poor shape. Very little talk of replacing them has gone on. This is going on while we still have a 68% dropout rate.
This mayor and the board of Education and our other elected officials have forgotten about or don’t give a shit about the kids who are not going to college. We run them through high school where they pass no matter what so we can make room for the next group of non-college students and the cycle goes on and on.
Does Finch think this is going to make us taxpayers happy and we will then forget about all the other screwups? Bill you know what would make me and the majority of parents in this city happy? A school system that is equal for all, not just the college bound. A school system that gets kids not going to college ready for the work world. A school system that does not have a 68% dropout rate. Damn it, it’s not rocket science, it’s equality for all.
Poverty is conquered by the rapier of education.
Diphonstopolese 336BC
Very well put, tc.
Amen.
John Gomes shows he understands a complex issue like the magnet school which helps in his quest to become The Mayor of Bridgeport.
However, he has shown little interest in becoming a State Representative in the nearby 126th District.
That’s fine because that is where Mark Trojanowski is gaining the kind of traction and momentum that propels candidates to victory. Learn more here:
www .voteformarkfeb22.com
Vote for Mark.
Gomes is running for mayor, is he not? Why would he want to be interested in a state rep seat?
If Keeley wins, do you think he will be rehired by Timpanelli?
Caruso did more for Bridgeport than any other State Rep. Why did he not have a salaried job from Timpanelli like Finch and Keeley?
I already like John Gomes the man … I’m liking John Gomes the candidate more every day. My one true wish for Bridgeport’s students is that there be no need for Magnet Schools.
Pardon my ignorance here but why does Bridgeport have to pay Trumbull for the full tuition of 120 students over a five-year period? Why does Bridgeport have to pay for all the security and public works maintenance for a regional school? Does Finch think these offers will persuade Trumbull to close the sewage deal? If that’s the case, it seems pretty shortsighted.
Good call Bridgeport Girl, Thank You John Gomes for opening our eyes to this.
OK kiddies and this includes candidate Gomes,
You really should have a clue as to what you are talking about before running off at the mouth.
Since this is a multi-district magnet school, the state of Connecticut has agreed to pay 100% of the construction costs. If it is a school for only Bridgeport children then the state would cover only around 78% and Governor Malloy has already said municipalities can expect that percent to go down for any new projects submitted for the foreseeable future. And this grant is approved and already in place.
To reject this grant and decide a year from now that you are going to build this in Bridgeport, the school construction cost will go up significantly because then we would need to include land acquisition and the state at best would be covering 75% of the cost.
What I believe the “scholarships” are is waiving the fees Trumbull would have to pay towards the operating costs to have their children attend.
You can blame both the Finch and Fabrizi administrations for taking too long to go for the zoning approvals. The former First Selectman was totally on board with this and would have gotten the project approved without these last-minute negotiations but the bottom line is this is still a better deal for the city than to try to go it alone at this time.
Bob, it’s great the state will pay 100% of the construction costs but Bridgeport will be picking up the tab for the rest of the operating costs. Teachers, maintenance, fire & police protection, heating & air conditioning. There are 7 communities involved in this school. With a 68% dropout rate how many students do we really have that will attend this magnet school? We have central magnet, Aqua Culture school. Vo-Ag program in Trumbull high school, the new science high school. I will go back to my first post, WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS NOT GOING TO COLLEGE? Do we just throw them away?
Bob, sometimes when you get something for nothing the cost is astronomical.
WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS NOT GOING TO COLLEGE? Hey TC, most of the people who created the mess this country is in went to college.
WRONG. Most of the people who suck the life out of this country didn’t.
TC,
The city of New Haven rebuilt its entire school system with the state of CT paying 100% because all of the schools were classified as inter-district magnets.
Bridgeport has been rebuilding its facilities with the state paying around 78%. I don’t care what the students’ passing grade is, the BOE and city administrations failed the taxpayers miserably with this shortsighted school construction plan.
Separate the two issues. The dropout rate has nothing to do with the construction plan.
Why are we just hearing about this state program to fund school construction 100% when we already built 7 new schools?
To my knowledge, the state paid 78-80% of construction costs of the recently built Bridgeport Schools. The state will pay 100% of the inter district High School because it is interdistrict.
If the school was only for Bridgeport school students, Bridgeport would pay 20-21% of the building costs.
Tom Hagen
Tell me consigliere
You going to give Finch’s crew a pass for old time’s sake? Or is Gomes gonna make them sleep with the fishes?
“Hopefully we can use this time to alert Bridgeport taxpayers as to the real long-term cost involved in this project …”
I hate this kind of press release. It ends with no clue as to what the cost is. Why do I get the feeling it’s another press release from Carolanne Curry?
The press release asks a lot of questions and gives no answers.
You can re-read it 100 times and John Gomes does not say what he would do and what would be the economic pluses and minuses when comparing what is happening now versus what would happen in his administration.
Just a lot of fluff and no substance.
Bob Walsh is EXACTLY right on this issue. Sorry John, you don’t know the whole story or benefits. Since this took sooooooooo long and now because Finch is weak, they are negotiating tough against him. Don’t punish the kids.
Not for nothing, putting your obvious agendas asides, at least John Gomes brought this to our attention. We are discussing this because he released this. What’s Ms. Foster’s take on this, RW&B? We don’t know because she didn’t bring it to our attention. Walsh’s agendas are against all candidates no matter who or what. Don’t trash the man, he’s at least speaking out.
While Bob Walsh is correct about the building cost, TC hit the nail on the head with the operating cost and the question regarding the fate of the other children.
While Magnet Schools have an upside for the lucky few from Bridgeport who actually get the chance to attend, it actually hurts the school district as a whole. Shame on Bob, for not knowing more about the inequities Magnet Schools cause district wide. He has the so-called integrity and fortitude (big words for balls) to attack Gomes’ questions, but it seems like he lacked balls to raise questions when he was in the position to do so.
If Magnet schools guaranteed equal opportunity for all the children of Bridgeport it would be a better idea. Do we know how many actual seats will be slated for Bridgeport kids? How would those kids be selected? Past practice demonstrates that children with involved parents get their kids into Magnet schools while those without active parents suffer at the “other” schools which now have less funding. The “other” schools historically lose their best students and staff which causes a creaming effect.
Magnet Schools are a band-aid remedy to school reform and do not get at the core of the issue. They pacify active parents and leave the children of non-active parents to deal with mediocrity at its best. Hopefully Gomes will present how he intends to deal with these issues. But for once, at least someone is raising questions. Now those elected to serve should just do that in the best interests of the people.
Approximately 75% of the students in this school will be from Bridgeport public schools. The point you made about magnet schools is exactly what I have said about charter schools. However charter schools are completely out of the public schools system, magnets are not. Magnets operate within the same system as all of the other public schools. Teachers are members of the same union. They work under the same contract and same work rules.
Successes realized in a magnet school can be much more readily implemented in other public schools. The same can not be said of charters.
Charters operate outside of not only the Bridgeport school system but under a separate set of rules from the state.
If you were to make your above comments about charter schools I would wholeheartedly agree with you. But as to magnets schools, I cannot.
The Exit27A Network supports the political aspirations of Mark Trojanowski in his quest to become State Representative in Connecticut’s 126th District.
www .Exit27A.com
Vote for Mark.
Green thumbs up!
blog.ctnews.com/connecticutpostings
I’m liking what Gomes is doing. Went to his website for the first time and there are many editorials on important subjects facing Bridgeport and its taxpayers. Keep throwing it out there John.
I expect the Finch supporters to throw shot at Gomes or Mary-Jane … that’s a given … but the undecided … or the MJF supporters should embrace what Gomes is doing. It’s all about bettering the City of Bridgeport and making it a great place to live and work once again … No matter what happens with MJF and Gomes, running separate or together … their messages are the same and there should be no trashing of either of them unless you can do better and get in the race … so far we haven’t heard anything from MJF but I’m sure she will be heard from. Gomes is putting out pressers and should be commended for it not trashed or picked apart … if you can do better there is still time to put your hat in the ring … the negative crap we witnessed this last election cycle was enough to turn everyone off … keep it positive and above the belt.
Well said.
Pardon my ignorance once again. I understand that a new school paid 100% by the state is a deal too good to pass up. However, going forward, how does Bpt pay for the operational costs, security and maintenance, not to mention new staffing (teachers, administrators, clerical, custodial)?
I am sorry if I have offended the Gomes supporters on the blog but please, he is an announced candidate for mayor. He was not drafted by the blog.
As such he should be expected to be fully informed and versed in issues before issuing a press release.
Maybe I just have a higher standard than most but there are just too many candidates who speak just to hear themselves talk.
As far as taking pot shots? He will be ripped apart by Finch and his supporters if he continues to speak just for the sake of putting his name out in the press. And the same can be said for the Connecticut Post.
This is not spring training. The regular season has begun.
Did Troll say spring training? Ah, the warmth of pitchers and catchers.
Ya gotta love accountants. They pay attention to details.
Solid advice Mr. Walsh, take it if you want.
Go to Gomes’ website and share your info, bitching on here gets our city nowhere.
Ten years ago I saw a great bumper sticker. “If you think Education is expensive wait & see the price of Stupidity.”
Truer words were never written.
Hey Anti
I saw a bumper sticker, “If you Think Stupidity is expensive wait & see the price of Bridgeport’s Education.”
Walsh,
I agree if Gomes does not have a plan to attack the questions he is raising, he will be hung out to dry. From what I know about Gomes, I think he is too smart to show his full hand at this time.
I strongly believe when you raise questions you gain a better dialogue by having others examine the depth of the questions. Gomes was able to create that needed dialogue, hopefully these releases create that sphere of dialogues amongst other circles. This type of analysis brings forth better solutions. But with that said, when the time comes Gomes should/needs to present some well-thought-out solutions to a difficult task of educational reform, and the other complex needs Bridgeport faces.
I think we all agree Magnet Schools have been a savior to many youth in Bridgeport. I myself noticed the difference in education I received at Central Magnet compared to some of my peers at what people called “regular” Central. But one’s luck in the lottery should not provide them with a greater opportunity in life. Government’s goal should be to create the means to provide all of her children with an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. I am not naive and understand other social ills that make it difficult; nonetheless equal opportunity at all schools should be the goal.
Kudos Capone
Gomes isn’t going to hand out the answers for others to steal.
CT Post / Rag won’t print his editorials, so debates are when his answers/plans will have to be unveiled.
Is it only me, or does anyone see anything wrong with the State of CT selling land to the City of Bridgeport that is in the Town of Trumbull? Who knows, there might be some nice parcels of beachfront land Trumbull might like to purchase so the town has its own beach for its residents. If the State of CT owns a parcel on the water, do you think land-locked towns should be allowed to buy it? Is there any difference between this hypothetical and selling the land for the school to Bridgeport?
If guys like Bob Walsh are questioning the methodology of John Gomes, he must be doing something right. Besides, using the press for self-promotion is a longstanding tradition. It’s always been the underdog’s technique. Gomes is turning his own words into political capital–what’s wrong with that?
Back to the issue, his preparation seems thorough. He had to answer his own questions and do his own research. Those are fantastic traits of a former, current or future Mayor.
Spring training is over. Some people think John Gomes is a cleanup hitter waiting for Opening Day.
Kudos Local Eyes
You get it.
Mr. Walsh I have been to all the zoning and wetland hearings. The Bpt delegation and Mrs =. Claire Gold have given into every demand Trumbull has squeezed from Bpt and these people have folded like a house of cards, also this is tied into the Regional Sewer project which this F…ing administration will jam up the citizens of BRIDGEPORT’S ASS.
Who the hell is Claire Gold and who is the politician she is related to or knows?
Not trashing Gomes, just disagreeing with him on his understanding of the project. Bob Walsh has a more accurate understanding. State pays 95% of construction and 5% match is covered by the land so basically a school with 70% or more Bridgeport kids gets built on the state tab–like the majority of new schools in New Haven, Waterbury and Hartford. The difference is Trumbull is sticking up Bridgeport for all they can get. Unfortunate. This has taken years, and Bob is right, if negotiated while Ray Baldwin was in office we wouldn’t be having as tough a time. He was supportive of the project. As for Claire Gold, she is an awesome lady. She has donated countless hours to helping Bridgeport kids. She is the retired superintendent of schools from Westport. She helped start the 6 to 6 school way back, the Discovery Magnet and now the Interdistrict Science High School. As for Mary-Jane Foster’s position, I don’t know where she is on this. She is in an exploratory campaign so is not issuing press releases on every issue at this time. I am sure if you ask her, she will share her thoughts. The Bridgeport High Schools are terribly overcrowded and something needs to be done. This is a great step to helping provide additional opportunities for integration, smaller class sizes and high quality math, science and technology learning. By the way $125,000,000 in construction spending hitting the local/regional economy has a multiplier effect that benefits small businesses and workers at this time. It is unfortunate Trumbull is taking such a hard line. The site for the school is a dead piece of property that is only being used for drug and drinking parties. It is not a nice piece of parkland as someone unfamiliar with the site might think. Go take a walk through and check it out. The school would be a huge improvement.
R W B
My advise to Ms. Foster
Great lady, better suited for CEO, working on the business end of BPT. Gomes is mayor’s material and gaining major steam, walking the streets where Ms. Foster can’t go. Have her people call his people.
Just exactly what streets can’t MJF go or walk? That is pure BS!
Ernie Newton would love that.
I attend as many BOE meetings as I possible can and have seen John Gomes at virtually every one. I can’t recall any candidate for any office taking so much of an interest in the children of Bridgeport. A couple of comments here indicate he is speaking without knowing all the facts or does not know what he’s talking about. I respectfully disagree. He’s been involved in the BOE and reaching out to parents long before it was politically expedient to do so. All these politicians talk the talk but this man walks the walk.
Be part of history, be part of positive change in Bpt. A leader with brains and the balls to use them.
Join Gomes at JohnMGomes.com
Tom, I think she can be a fantastic CEO for Bridgeport. She will be walking throughout the city if she enters the race. I know John Gomes very well. Good guy, not ready to be Mayor of the largest city in Connecticut. We have to stop putting people into office who can’t handle the job for one reason or another. Mary-Jane is ready and will be an outstanding Mayor if she runs and is elected. Many, many, many people are lining up for her. I think it would be foolish to underestimate her as a candidate. I believe she can and will win if she runs. We can agree to disagree Tom can’t we … for now.
Also, questions were raised on the operational cost for the school. For the 30% of kids coming from out of district, I believe (please check my figures, I can’t it is the weekend) Bridgeport gets $6,000 per kid plus a transportation allowance. Also, unlike the Charter school model, for the Bridgeport kids entering the interdistrict school, Bridgeport gets to keep the $6,000 per student from the state. I believe the High School will open up an additional 1050 seats at the High School level for Bridgeport kids. These seats are desperately needed since Harding, Bassick and Central are grossly overcrowded. At some point the city will have to either build another High School on its own (big money folks) or go forward with this project. The curriculum design for the school is fantastic and there is a partnership with Sacred Heart University and the Discovery Museum for the High School just like for the Discovery school. Turning out better-prepared students in math, science and technology … imagine. The anti-energy should be aimed to push Finch to negotiate harder for Bridgeport. Maybe people should attend some of the meetings in Trumbull. I believe Trumbull’s requests are way beyond what is reasonable.
RWB, it is not that the school isn’t needed it’s what the city must do at the hands of Trumbull to get it built. Yes we need the school. Bpt holds the keys to the waste treatment plants, let’s use them to our advantage, let’s tell Trumbull and Monroe we own these plants not you. It’s a greater expense for these towns to build treatment plants than for Bpt to build a school. I was at the last meeting when the number for Trumbull pupils went from 50 to 150 in a matter of 2 minutes when Trumbull officials said that would help with their decision and then fire support, police, emergency and a long list of other treats followed including money. Where will it all come from?