The Bridgeport Board of Education meeting Monday (tonight) is one to watch. The agenda includes “Motion to rescind Motion to consolidate BRIDGEPORT Board of Education security with Bridgeport police Department made on January 23, 2012 and return control of security operations to the Bridgeport Public School District.” The last item on the agenda is a request for proposals for legal services, a large ticket item that could lead to the school district breaking from its long-standing relationship with the Bridgeport-based firm Durant, Nichols, Houston, Hodgson & Cortese-Costa.
In a Sunday editorial the Connecticut Post writes school security should remain in the hands of the Police Department. School Board President Sauda Baraka is among the board members seeking to regain control of security. From the Post:
The safety of Bridgeport public school children is a matter best left in the hands of the Bridgeport Police department, the people who do this for a living.
Bridgeport school officials, including the elected Bridgeport Board of Education members, should be breathing a sigh of relief that this burden is lifted from them, freeing them to devote their time to educational issues.
Full editorial here.
REVISED BRIDGEPORT BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT AND AGENDA
Monday, January 13, 2014 – 6:30 P.M.
AQUACULTURE SCHOOL – 60 St. STEPHENS ROAD
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. Approval of Board Minutes
5. Student Representative(s) Oral Report
6. Executive Session
Pending Litigation(s)*
• Stone vs. BBOE FBT – CV – 13 – 6032345 – S*
Approval of MOU Between BBOE and WE Transport LLC*
Paul Vallas’s Letter of Resignation*
Discussion and Possible Action on Bridgeport Council of Administrators & Supervisors Contract and Bridgeport Educators Association Contract*
7. Chairman’s Report
8. PAC President’s Report
9. Public Comment(s)
10. Committee Reports
Out of security committee: Motion to rescind Motion to consolidate BRIDGEPORT Board of Education security with Bridgeport police Department made on January 23, 2012 and return control of security operations to the Bridgeport Public School District.
11. Superintendent’s Reports Agenda
1. Recognitions, Achievements and Awards
2. Update of FY 14 Capital Budget Request – Marlene Siegel and Jorge Garcia
3. Presentation on Indoor Air Quality Through the State’s EPA Tools of Schools
4. Discussion of Legal Fees
5. Financial Reports and Five Year Plan
6. Ratification of Board Appointed Parent and Administrator on Turnaround Teams for New Commissioner’s Network
12. Old Business
• Discussion of Contracts
• First Reading of Policy 9325.2 (To Be Referred to the Board Process Committee)
13. New Business
• RFP for Legal Services
*** If the Bpt school security system goes back under the BOE, most Bpt city charter school rules and regulations will be overlooked and the school security will not be able to do their job the way it should be done to make sure all staff, parents and kids are safe to and from school and while on school grounds. Also teachers will have to put up longer with class knuckleheads who don’t want to be there in their class therefore disrupt everything and everybody while there! Three strikes and you’re out of regular school thus preparing one for alternative school and/or classes ’til hopefully they get it together there under the 3-strike rule as well! ***
*** In other words, things that should be brought to the attention of the Bpt P/D would probably be swept under the rug by BOE security policies, etc. to save face. In this day and age, schools need a “no-tolerance policy” to protect all coming, staying and going in city schools! ***
The BOE does need to be aware of the safety of children and all members of the school community. And if truth be told and reviewed, there has been a significant amount of attention to this issue over the past two years. The consolidation approved by the sitting BOE two years ago and still in effect from a cursory point of view has produced improved outcomes in many areas. And it has brought about a working example of community collaboration that appears to have provided efficiency and fiscal improvement.
At the last meeting of the outgoing BOE, Maria Pereira raised the issue of school security by commenting on school teams, like cross country, not having protection. And the question must be asked, where is the problem? And what is the most direct way to solve that? Was that the genuine reason for moving from the consolidation or not? Are there personnel reasons that have a higher priority with some BOE members than efficiency and effectiveness call for? When personnel issues take leadership eye off what is best for all, and when long-term relationships or representation provide an appearance of personal conflicts of interest, this Board or any elected group undercuts its authority and community respect.
Today the Sunday CT Post quotes BOE Chair Sauda Baraka in terms of another issue: “Baraka urged the board to move slower, to make sure there was community “buy in” before committing more schools to a still unproven process.” This relates to the two City schools, Curiale and Dunbar, that have entered the Commissioner’s Network during the past two years. It may be too early for a “dramatic rise in test scores,” however the ‘reforms’ set in motion seem to be supported by teachers and parents, two of the most important stakeholder groups. More patience would be advised it seems.
With many issues and concerns on the table, that same caution applies. I am not aware of any recent study or review of school security from a financial perspective. Has there been such a study? Who can tell us what the UN-CONSOLIDATION of the current system will cost in dollars, manpower, and other resources affecting the safety of all youth WHO ARE CURRENTLY PROTECTED BY THE CURRENT OPERATING SYSTEM? Don’t you need that info before making an informed decision as a BOE? Where is a report from the BOE Finance Committee addressing this subject? Time will tell.
With everything happening in schools, I am very disappointed in how the board is handling this. As a parent I knew nothing about a vote to change this. Baraka as chair is using the same tactics they claimed keep parents out of decisions. And this is after siding with an abusive principal. She always talks about the children but how does this help protect our children? Baraka, Baker and Bagley should really think about the kids and not their own agenda. We understood Bagley would do what he is told to do but I didn’t think Baker would have followed suit. In conversations with our security guard I thought this was a good thing. They should talk with the people who will be affected. I’m sure they have someone they want to give this job to. And as for the Network that would bring in new programs and money, we should apply. Why do they do all these things that seem to be having a good effect on our children? WFP should be ashamed.
The agendas are always put first before the kids, it is Bridgeport’s legacy.
Sunday’s CT Post editorial concisely made the point why the BOE/Bpt Police partnership made sense. If the current BOE Chair and her aligned board members push this through, it will either be their obsession with rescinding any advances made by Vallas or as some have opined, it’s their turn to bring in their unqualified hacks.
Let me see … mall cops versus trained police officers overseeing mall cops.
I believe this will all be about installing their own unqualified hacks. It’s not about the kids but a high-paid jobs program for deadbeat friends of the BOE, past or present.