State legislative leadership wants to redirect some of Governor Ned Lamont’s $200 rebate program to bolster funding for public education.
Statement from Bridgeport school chief Royce Avery:
Redirecting between $100 million and $150 million in state funding to local school districts by scaling back the rebate program is a significant step in the right direction for our students and our community. The strong focus on increasing education funding is meaningful, appreciated, and reflects a clear recognition of the needs facing our schools.
For districts like Bridgeport, additional funding means more direct support in our classrooms, stronger academic programs, and a greater ability to meet the needs of every student we serve. It helps us continue the important work already underway and strengthens our ability to provide students with the opportunities they deserve.
We are sincerely grateful to House Speaker Matthew Ritter, State Representative Christopher Rosario, and members of the Connecticut House Democratic Caucus for their leadership in advancing this proposal and for recognizing the importance of investing in public education.
While more work remains to fully meet the needs of our students, this proposal represents meaningful progress. Since stepping into this role in November 2024, I have appreciated the partnership of our legislative delegation and the Mayor in helping keep the focus on what matters most, our students and their success.
We are thankful for the continued collaboration and shared commitment to the students and families of Bridgeport Public Schools.
Does the legislature understand that a small rebate to renters, seniors, or property taxpayers this year will likely be forgotten quickly and not be as potent a factor for the future of the State as grabbing the “education fiasco” by the horns and promoting the rapid transition of authority for education goals to all youth across the State, and the dollars of downpayments this year and priority status in future years fairly where required, with equivalency across geographic governance borders, and prepare each and all willing students for their futures with the minimum of reading, computation, and reasoning skills and experiences that prepare them to face the very real decisions they will face in the future. Time will tell.
Does the legislature understand that a small rebate to renters, seniors, or property taxpayers this year will likely be forgotten quickly? It stands little chance of becoming as potent a factor for the future of the State as grabbing the “education fiasco” by the horns.
As an alternative, promote a rapid transition of governance authority for education goals and outcomes to all youth across the State, see the dollars of downpayments this year and priority status in future yearsfor fair funding where required, with equivalency across geographic governance borders, and prepare each and all willing students for our futures with a minimum of reading, computation, and reasoning skills and other actual skill experiences that prepare them to face the very real decisions they will face in the future. Time will tell.
What? Are you nuts? Leave my $200 alone!
Here’s what you should do: Transfer $2,000 from your hefty paycheck to my account.
What right do you have to receive income from me?
What responsibility to the children of our community do we have to provide them with a basic education annually?
Time will tell.
I’ve been around a bit longer than the supt and agree while every lil bit helps. However, conflating the state’s responsibility to fully fund PILOTS and the states fair share of education to cities is unwise. $150 million may seem like a lot, spread across 169 municipalities The city of Bridgeport would likely see a property relief grant of less than 10 million dollars. (A guesstimate pulled out my rear end for once)
And what guarantee will be built in that all will be transferred to education once it’s in the city’s hands? Why do it this way? Well to obfuscate the State’s underfunding of both of course. Totally inadequate.
Bridgeport Public Schools needs 44.1 million dollars to avoid cuts. As bills stand today if passed we get 5.3 million dollars. Add the Mayors promised five million dollars and we have about 33.8 million left to cut before the “property tax relief” I am more scared for our children than ever.
If any positive can come of this it is that advocacy efforts are working and they are feeling the pressure in this Election year enough so that their is some, albeit insufficient movement. Keep the pressure up people! Our kids are counting on you! So am I! I have little idea what more The Govenor and Mayor want us take from a school system without Librarians.
https://youtu.be/clg0XNvhQWU?si=jieXARzbhLkimZNE