While a new Bassick High School in the South End along the University of Bridgeport campus is expected to open this coming school year, the city also recently announced that funding is in place to build a $73 million special education school in the North End on property occupied by Skane School.
Expected to be completed in 2027, the new center will provide all services under one roof and end the transportation of special needs students outside the city. Special education accounts for roughly one third of the district’s budget.
Report by Frank Recchia, News 12, Full story here
“This new facility – which will be a technical wonder and make us the envy of school districts everywhere — will end years of toilsome bussing for hundreds of our most vulnerable students, some of whom have been getting their educations outside of Connecticut, a situation I’ve long wished to remedy,” Mayor Joe Ganim told News 12.
Acting School Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery thanked state lawmakers for securing the money.
“I’m proud to stand here today with State Rep. Chris Roasrio, who helped to get us to this pivotal moment,” Avery said.
Rosario said the funding is already in hand, which means “it can’t now be clawed back by the federal government.”
Kiara Luna, whose 9-year-old son has autism, said the announcement was the best news she’s heard “in a very long time.”
“This is a transformational step forward for both the district and our family. When I first heard the news, I wanted to cry – for joy,” Luna said.
