The Board of Education Tuesday night voted to appoint Royce Avery acting superintendent of schools with Carmela Levy-David on leave while also voting to offer her a settlement that pays her through the end of the school year if she resigns.
Either way, her days appear numbered after about one year on the job, another school leader under fire the past decade.
News release from the school district:
Bridgeport Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Royce Avery as Acting Superintendent. Dr. Avery, who has served as Deputy Superintendent for the past year, will step into this role following the leave of absence of current Superintendent, Dr. Carmela Levy-David.
“I am honored to step into the role of Acting Superintendent for Bridgeport Public Schools,” Avery said. Over the past year, I have witnessed the incredible dedication and resilience of our staff, students, and community. I am committed to continuing our progress and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed. Thank you for your support and trust.”
Avery brings more than a decade of experience as a Superintendent in various districts, coupled with his recent contributions to Bridgeport Public Schools. His extensive background and dedication to education make him well-suited to lead the district during this transitional period.
More from Richard Chumney, CT Post:
The often-divided nine-member board voted unanimously to name Deputy Superintendent Royce Avery the acting superintendent during Carmela Levy-David’s absence.
“I am very excited and honored to become the acting (superintendent),” Avery said in a brief interview after the vote. “I just want the community to know that I’m committed and I’m here to stay as long as I’m needed.”
Avery, a former Texas-based superintendent, joined the school system last fall as Levy-David’s second-in-command. He was initially hired on an interim basis but was later elevated to the permanent position.
The board’s move to appoint Avery was made a day after Stacy Graham-Hunt, a spokesperson for the school district, confirmed that Levy-David has been out on leave since Nov. 4 for “personal reasons.”
Full story here
Bridgeport’s school-system’s difficulties are, of course, reflective of Bridgeport’s deep, chronic, worsening socioeconomic problems. Our tax base is shrinking — Steal Point is a subsidized development that is a current economic drag on the city. Downtown and other housing projects cost the city money — they are “tax-negative” propositions. Waterfront power plants and incinerators devalue and displace high-end tax base and therefore are also tax-negative in terms of overall effect/opportunity costs… Our “tax-positive” commercial tax base is in its 7th decade of recession. No net, job-intensive (tax-positive) economic development in this city in perhaps 80 years. And we are losing our “draws” for new tax base — with a dying namesake university and an education system continuing to circle the bowl.
Until we get serious, positive, committed help from the state and federal government to prop up our school system as we also get help rebuilding a viable tax base — with jobs that encourage family commitment to education — we are going to our whole socioeconomic fabric continue to implode.
The condition of our schools is reflective of our overall municipal collapse and is not going to improve in a vacuum of municipal progress (per the lack thereof). Bridgeport needs to harness its vote to squeeze Ned and the state to create a real plan to resurrect Bridgeport’s primacy as the state’s largest city, Right now we are Stamford’s dormitory and junk-development repository (e.g., the regional waste incinerator and waterfront power plants).
Unless and until the state decides to rebuild Bridgeport from the bottom up, our BOE and education system will just continue to spin theri wheels in the muck. Where is Governor Ned and Mayor Joe, And from the federal side, where are Congressman Jim, and Senator’s Dick and Chris on Bridgeport’s continuing sinking fortune’s. And where is a plan from our state delegation to lobby for our resurrection in Hartford?! Where is the CC’s plan to right our muncipal ship? (Oh yeah, they’re busy avoiding Bridgeport taxes, stuffing ballot boxes, and engaging in other criminal activity…)
The BOE has no chance to save the Bridgeport schools unless there is a simultaneous state and federal mission-plan/commitment for a massive, $multi-billion Bridgeport renaissance…. No mystery why the Bridgeport school superintendent’s job is a very costly revolving door situation.
Agree with most of what you say Jeff. It’s a muddy mess!
I’ve recently retired from a longtime career in business management and became a long term substitute teacher in Bridgeport.
I can confidently report that the certified teachers I work with are committed and work diligently towards providing the best education possible under multiple, challenging circumstances.
Elected leaders need to step up.
Kids deserve better, it’s not their fault.