Board of Education Chairman Dennis Bradley says he will hold firm in his boycott of meetings until Maria Pereira resigns. Pereira says Bradley should be the one resigning. And so now begins the battle of will and battle of attrition. A larger question also looms, how long will the three other board members Annette Segarra-Negron, Joe Larcheveque and Kevin McSpirit remain loyal to the boycott?
What’s the endgame here? Pereira is not resigning. Bradley says he will be visiting neighborhoods, parents and church groups to share his rationale for the boycott: the board is a dysfunctional mess led by the toxicity of Pereira. Bradley says calling for a state takeover of schools, at this point, is not on his radar but could be a consideration down the road.
Meanwhile, Pereira counters she will be leading her own grassroots campaign.
“Grassroots organizing requires a strong work ethic which Dennis Bradley clearly does not have,” she says. “There’s definitely going to be a grassroots organized effort but it will be against Dennis Bradley, Joe Larcheveque, Kevin McSpirit, Annette Negron, Joe Ganim and (Democratic Town Chair) Mario Testa.”
In an interview Tuesday morning, a day after announcing the boycott of meetings, Bradley said he first thought about a boycott following the last full board meeting in which he accused Pereira of being a bully. Pereira in turn called him a buffoon.
“When I sat there and watched her berate Annette Negron I felt like a coward,” says Bradley. “I heard her say nasty and slanderous things. I had to do something. I was resolute never leaving a board meeting again to see that happen. I’m not going to tolerate it. Enough is enough.”
How long will the boycott coalition hold together?
“We will not appear and I intend to hold on to that,” says Bradley. “I am going to hold firm. And I am confident that they will hold firm.”
Is a call for a state takeover of schools possible?
“All options are on the table to put our district forward. I will not stand for this degree of dysfunction. It’s about what we can do for the kids of our public schools … It’s 100 percent driven by her agenda and her talking points … The name calling, abusive emails, endless requests for FOI. She simply harasses and badgers.”
What’s Mayor Joe Ganim’s opinion of the boycott?
His spokesman Av Harris says, “This is another unfortunate example of dysfunction on the Bridgeport Board of Education. There’s some pretty ugly politics on the board when they should be focused on doing what’s best for the kids and not using the board as a platform for a political agenda. The mayor would like to see a good and functioning board and this obviously shows this is not happening.”
Will the mayor appoint a replacement to fill the vacancy of Andre Baker?
Harris says it’s under consideration. Pereira on Monday filed a lawsuit challenging Ganim’s authority to fill a school board vacancy if the board does not act within 30 days.
A parent coalition led by education advocate Jessica Martinez, opposed to Maria Pereira, issued this announcement Tuesday:
TOGETHER WE STAND FOR THE CHILDREN OF BRIDGEPORT AND THEIR FUTURE!
WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE INJUSTICE THAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS IN BRIDGEPORT!
WE CANNOT ALLOW MARIA PEREIRA TO CONTINUE TO TERRORIZE OUR COMMUNITY AND STALL EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE STAND UNITED AGAINST THIS BULLY AND WE CALL FOR HER IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION FROM THE BRIDGEPORT BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WHAT: Bridgeport Parent Press Conference
WHERE: Outside Sidewalk Geraldine Johnson School
475 Lexington Ave Bridgeport CT 06604
WHEN: Wednesday, September 14, 2016
TIME: 5:15pm-6:00pm
Dennis Bradley. RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. You will be exposed to the parents of Bridgeport school children as a puppet of Mario Testa and Joe Ganim. Did you not learn something in your primary loss to Senator Gomes? Last night at Johnson School there were calls to your face to resign. Those calls will increase as concerned residents and especially parents if BPT schoolchildren will learn you have no knowledge whatsoever of Education and you’re not qualified to be the chair. Just as in the primary, you and those who control you miscalculated and YOU WILL LOSE AGAIN.
Well of course Jessica Martinez is organizing this press conference. She couldn’t even spell my name correctly. For the record it is “Pereira” not “Periera.” LOL!
Dennis Bradley, you said you would lead a grassroots campaign against Senator Gomes. Mario Testa and Joe Ganim forgot Ganim won with a very low turnout and Ganim and Testa have continued to lose support. Simply put, you will not find grassroots support. Quite the opposite.
I’m starting to think Dennis made it through college and law school because daddy kept donating money to the schools he attended.
You jerks on the BOE asked to be elected and you were. Are you telling me one woman can intimidate you all so you won’t meet? To the men on the board, you are a bunch of bitches.
Have all you bitches (males) forgotten the kids? Did you forget about the 7th grade class at one of our schools where none of the 28 kids are reading at grade level and six are reading at kindergarten level? Shame on all of you for not caring about the kids. You all suck.
Hold on there, Andy! You paint with too broad a brush.
If you are a member of the elected BOE, which you are, then you are part of the problem.
A BOE can be a solution or it can be a part of the problem. Unfortunately, the school system is being used by that piece of s##t called Mario Testa so he can dole out jobs and money. ULTIMATELY, ALL Bridgeporters who want to regain control of Bridgeport must have ONE of many goals: SIMPLY GET RID OF MARIO TESTA.
Here is the statement I read into the record of our first BOE Meeting on August 22, 2016 which was tied to the preparation of the lawsuit.
“I would like the record to reflect my firm view and position that Mayor Ganim had and has no authority to appoint a member of this BOE, therefore, Ms. Segarra-Negron, has absolutely no authority to serve on this Board. We intend to file a lawsuit within 10-14 days which will include a request that every main motion that failed or passed based on Ms. Negron’s vote be nulled and voided.
“In addition, I firmly believe those who repeatedly do not pay their taxes should never be in a position to make decisions regarding taxpayer dollars generated by taxpaying citizens. Although there are times taxpayers fall behind for a variety of reasons which is understandable, the failure to pay real estate taxes on a property that generates two rental incomes for over four consecutive years is in no way “reasonable.”
“Therefore I will not recognize or acknowledge Ms. Negron as a member of this Board until such time as a judge rules differently.”
What was “nasty” and “slanderous” about that? What I stated was factual.
I sat on the complete opposite end of the table and utilized a Point of Privilege to read this statement into the record. I never spoke with, emailed, called, etc. Negron before or after this statement.
Dennis Bradley and Joe Larcheveque attended several meetings after the August 22, 2016 Regular Meeting. We had two meetings on Monday, August 29th, and everything went well. We had another meeting on Tuesday, August 30th where both Dennis and Joe voted to have me work on a project on behalf of the full Board. We also conducted the interview of BOE applicants to fill the vacancy on Tuesday, September 6th, and we had another meeting on Thursday, September 8th. Every meeting ran smoothly except Dennis Bradley arrived at every meeting without so much as a single piece of paper and was unprepared as usual.
He was so tormented and distraught over the August 22nd meeting that he attended four additional meetings where everything was civil and productive.
Stop portraying yourself, Larcheveque, McSpirit and Negron as victims and righteous. The vast majority of the public is not buying it.
So what are we going to do? That’s the next step.
Dennis,
Now I wish I hadn’t support you for State Senator.
Oh, wait a minute. I didn’t. I supported the honorable Ed Gomes. Thank God.
Go away Dennis. Please just go away.
Go away, Maria Pariah!
I thought they had sent you out to pasture.
Another coward!
And another handle making useless statements and has the protection of anonymity. QUARTERHORSE. What is your real name? Do you have the guts to reveal yourself? If not, go back into your barn. There is enough manure in Bridgeport right now.
LOL.
And Thank You Mayor Joe for your sentiments so eloquently expressed by your spokesperson Av Harris.
Oh, wait a minute. Av’s comments were just more gibberish. A real mayor would do anything and everything in his power to get the board back together again and moving forward.
Instead he adds nothing of substance to the conversation and if anything he is laying the groundwork for another attempted takeover of the BOE.
OMG!!!
Joe Ganim has morphed into Bill Finch. How very sad that is but he really has had any genuine positive input on Bridgeport for decades.
Dennis, Dennis, Dennis,
This video clearly shows you initiating the name-calling by calling me a “bully,” slamming your hand on the table, hammering your little gavel, smirking as if the situation were humorous.
I have the emails you sent me stating I “should stop spending Frank’s money,” telling me “to get a job,” telling me “to go to school to get a college education,” an email telling me I “report to you.” I also have the highly inappropriate text messages you sent me about my daughter who was just 19 years old at the time.
I have submitted three FOI requests to Ms. Rabinowitz since December 2015, which is within my legal rights to do so. The more important issue is why an elected BOE member needs to submit a FOIA Request to her very own employee.
That’s a shame. Board members should have master passwords to access all information.
What’s Mayor Joe Ganim’s opinion of the boycott?
His spokesman Av Harris says, “This is another unfortunate example of dysfunction on the Bridgeport Board of Education. There’s some pretty ugly politics on the board when they should be focused on doing what’s best for the kids and not using the board as a platform for a political agenda. The mayor would like to see a good and functioning board and this obviously shows this is not happening.”
I wonder if Mayor Ganim and Av Harris are equally concerned about the “dysfunction” within his own administration where unlike the BOE members, Mayor Ganim’s appointees are highly compensated yet bickering with each other, and storming out of 999 Broad St. on a regular basis.
Hey Av, you wrote Bradley’s press release on Board letterhead without Board approval, which is required. Testa, Ganim and you do not have clean hands here and are completely involved is this ridiculous strategy that has completely backfired on ALL of you.
My own personal opinion is this BOE travesty was cooked up by Mario Testa and Ganim and facilitating Testa to keep him happy. I think Ganim and Testa have some type of power-sharing understanding. The issues that are important to Ganim will be facilitated by Testa and the issues important to Testa will be facilitated by Ganim. At the start of Ganim’s administration, Ganim was preoccupied with his police situation and getting AJ Perez into the (Acting) Police Chief position and Testa worked behind the scenes to get that done. In terms of the school board, it seems this is Testa’s project. We need to remember Testa was present in the audience when Dennis Bradley, to the surprise of many, was elected to be head of the BOE. The BOE means patronage, which equals power for Testa. I doubt Ganim wants to get up to his neck in dealing with the school system. Politically, the school situation is a no-win situation and Ganim would not touch it with a ten-foot pole, BUT Ganim will help and facilitate Testa’s grab for the BOE. TO ALL, THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE MY OPINION.
Frank, Mario had that deal all put together with the assistance of the Republicans and Hennessey. In the presence of Dotti Guman, me and Maria Pereira he pretended to advocate for a well-respected Democrat all while getting information he needed to pull off his own choice. He’s a sneaky liar and would sell his first born if he had one. I was at that meeting also because Ganim had to preside and swear in the Chairman. While I witnessed Ganim and at least fourteen of his staff employees (coward) along with Mario Testa, even John Ricci was ordered to be there, I severed all ties with the Ganim administration, apologized to anyone who cared for supporting him, and accepted my hope of a better Joe Ganim was never going to happen. Prison from what I hear changes a person, it did him, he’s a paranoid, pussycat, afraid of his own shadow. He’s taken one of our precious resources from the Police Department to drive him around 24/7. With all the crime, wouldn’t one think this officer would be needed on the streets protecting residents instead of being paid to be a chauffeur?
All of us in Bridgeport are now being robbed of a golden opportunity. A judge has just ordered the State of Connecticut to repair its school funding formula, which he has found to be irrational. The nation is watching! The state has 180 days–well, fewer days now–to produce such a formula. You would think members of the Board Education and other leaders in Bridgeport would be working with the fine members of our legislative delegation to craft a proposal that serves the needs of Bridgeport schools, and maybe in coalition with Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury and other troubled cities. Instead, we have a basket of deplorables serving us on the school board. They dare each other to induce a state takeover of Bridgeport schools, when the real response should be leading the state to develop a once-in-a-generation policy for school funding that serves our students, city and schools. Do any of them have vision? Do any of them have the leadership style we need, to play the truly important game at the state level with the future of Bridgeport schools at stake? The clock is running. This is a case when, as JML would surely remind us, “Time will tell.” Time will be up all too soon. Tick Tock.
Doug, happy to read your words, an oasis of “outside the box” perspective at this superheated moment.
Remember, Joe Ganim did not run on a platform that supported education results or change. He did on occasion refer to the City building program that has new and renovated schools in the pipeline, but flat ignored the school operating costs at FY2017 budget time.
So $15 Million worth of cuts, adjustments, furloughs and terminations are working their way through the opening weeks of school and it is not pretty.
** Kindergarten paraprofessionals with a price tag of around $2.1 Million were cut, and their absence is noted profoundly by teachers and others. How many weeks or months behind will instruction in reading fall this year for this budget adjustment?
** Teachers are seeing the change above and many sound willing to take the necessary furlough days, but as in all good democracies, they were not provided a chance to vote yet. Their President made the decision for them. How is that working out?
** And the paraprofessionals never got a union vote either as their leader retired leaving unfinished business unattended to and people out of work. How well are unions representing workers? What are they doing for parents and taxpayers that is worthy?
** Finally, the City Council Budget Committee met last night to review the July Financial Report and review several Capital funding resolutions. They learned the State sharing of regional sales tax proceeds encouraged Ken Flatto to adjust a projection of almost $10 Million upwards by $6 Million to $15,874,826. Is that possible? Well he also shared with B&A the City has already received over $12 Million in early August that will show up in next month’s report for review. Good news!!! What can it be spent on? What about BOE Kindergarten paras, guidance counselors and others in the system to prepare youth for life? Isn’t that the question? Where was the public last night seeing how the B&A works at their task?
Do people care? Do they see values that need protection? Why is the Mayor not talking about these issues? What are his priorities? If Joe will not answer, what does Mario say? Time will tell.
JML, the revenues from the sales tax sharing law is NOT A SURPRISE. This has been on the books for awhile. My question: Why did not Flatto project the proceeds from the sales tax sharing into the initial 2016-2017 budget? Again, the law and the proceeds are not a surprise. Since you have pored over the 2016-2017 budget, were there projections from the sales tax sharing? If not, this is faulty budget projections from Flatto. If not projected, it is still some type of “cooking the books.” Also, do you have any information concerning the car property tax capping that started this past July 2016? My understanding is municipalities would receive from the State the dollar differences between the actual mil rate and the capped mil rate (if I remember, the capped is at 37 mils and BPT mils are 51, give or take). Again, reimbursement from the State should have been projected by Flatto. Is that the case? Are there projections in the budget earlier proposed and adopted which set the mil rate back in May 2016? If the Budget did not project car tax reimbursement projections, to me this is a sign of faulty budget projection by Flatto. A Good CFO needs to correctly project all revenues. If The City/Flatto is not projecting correctly (mistakenly or purposely) all these additional funds should not be seen as extra play money that just “happened” to appear out of the blue.
Frank,
Just a moment. Your ire should be directed to an accurate target. You know how to reach me for further info. Municipal Share of Sales Taxes Fund never appeared in a City Budget until this year. If it was an old story, the original stories did not provide good evidence of the extent of the revenue stream in the initial year. It was a new item approved by the Legislature. What value should be used? The Council and CFO settled on $9.8 Million and the first month of FY2017 was July. The July report showed “0” revenue in that line item when it was published on 8/26/16. Those are facts. Do you dispute them?
You raise the car tax issue that was not part of my comments above. I hope the CFO will provide Line Items for the revenue items so that we can talk about them more credibly.
Whether the above was a result of the difference in timing for budget closings between Bridgeport and the State or a matter of conservative budget practice is less important at the moment than we are in actual receipt of over $3 Million from a State source (not ECS or other education source) that might be directed by the City Council to assist the schools, which they did not do in regular time. It will not increase property taxes one bit, and we would have already heard from Mario, Joe and Av if surplus dollars were to be distributed to taxpayers in any viable form.
It is not play money, but actual “excess” funds in a budget that is already rich. The City should respond to the needs of the youngest in the community. How about $2.1 Million to get the paraprofessionals back in the Kindergarten classrooms, or will you choose to continue the poor development of reading skills we have seen where appropriate intervention can and does make a difference? Time will tell.
Hello Doug, hope your road to wellness is progressing. Haven’t seen a FB update in a while. In theory, working to show the numbers and needs in Bridgeport Schools to present to Bridgeport legislators is ideal, there’s this twist–of course, because CT legislative body has a lot of attorneys sitting in office.
www .ctpost.com/local/article/Legislative-leaders-sees-grounds-to-appeal-ed-9219650.php
What legislative body DOES NOT have a lot of lawyers?
Doug Davidoff, IMHO it is going to be quite a while–possibly even years–to see the State truly respond to both the letter and the spirit of this somewhat-weakened decision by the judge in this case. The judge said “discrimination” exists but did not issue any formal remedy and threw it back into the State Legislature (which will sit again in JANUARY 2017). I have stated here that in terms of the State Legislature, IMHO it is not a question of Democrats versus Republicans but suburban legislators (both Democratic and Republican) versus the urban legislators (mostly Democrat). The suburban legislators are going to protect their constituents and fight to minimize any tax dollars coming from the suburbs. There is the famous quote from famed bank robber Willie Sutton as to why he robbed banks. His answer, that’s where the money is. In Connecticut, the money is in the suburbs.
IMHO, I don’t think we will see a sea-change in policy from the State in 180 days. The Legislature will not sit until January 2017. It is even possible that we may have a new governor.(If..If..IF.. Hillary Clinton wins,she may pull Malloy to D.C. and we will be dealing with Nancy Wyman. If Trump wins,all bets are off). This is going to take a while.
A must-read from the New York Times. Although everyone reading this blog knows all these facts to some degree or other, reading them in one story hammers home the point.
www .nytimes.com/2016/09/12/nyregion/in-connecticut-a-wealth-gap-divides-neighboring-schools.html
A fine article.
Mr. Davidoff,
The CCJEF lawsuit was on the agenda for yesterday’s meeting, which was cancelled by Dennis Bradley. As I am sure you are aware, Sauda Baraka, Howard Gardner, Ben Walker and myself showed up to put in the work.
So everyone is clearly aware of Interim-Superintent Fran Rabinowitz’ involvement in this debacle, she thought it appropriate to send out this email at noon today.
“Good morning, everyone,
Until the Board of Education issues are resolved, staff will not be attending Board Committee meetings.
Fran”
Fran Rabinowitz has no authority to do this and is 100% involved in this disgraceful conduct by Testa, Ganim, Bradley, Larcheveque, McSpirit and the illegally appointed Negron.
As things stand right now/today, there will be no BOE meetings.
Howard Gardner is Chair of the Finance Committee. He held his Finance Committee Meeting tonight with Ms. Baraka, Mr. Walker and myself in attendance.
I had a friend make a flier for all four M.I.A. BOE Members and Interim-Superintendent that stated the following:
M.I.A. Have you seen her/him?
Each of their titles and photos were on the flier. I taped the fliers to each of their empty chairs, took photos and shared them on Facebook.
I would be very careful with the Lighthouse Program because just the four of you would get blamed if that is cut.
Dennis, why can’t you understand Maria was elected to the BBOE just like you? It was the will of the people who said they want her there to represent the interest of their children and themselves. How can you think what you are trying to do is in the best interest of the children and parents who elected you?
Circumventing the will of the people was tried and failed in the not-to-distant past with the last Mayor and his desire to control the BBOE. Look man, just do the job you were elected to do, do what it takes to bring our schools out of the abyss of abject failure, do what it takes to give the youth of Bridgeport a better chance to succeed academically and in life and quit putting your career aspirations ahead of our youth.
Dennis, Bridgeport is about 74% black and Latino and one can safely assume the schools of Bridgeport are disproportionately black and Latino. How in hell can you let white folks (Mario and Joe) talk you into stepping on the hopes and dreams of young black and Latino children for future considerations?
You can’t possibly believe no meetings are better than meetings, that the possibility of getting something done isn’t better than getting nothing done or the children of Bridgeport aren’t even worth the effort.
Those flucking white folks!!!
youtu.be/K8E_zMLCRNg
Don, you got that right, that’s why I said this on another topic about this, “We all know Dennis Bradley didn’t come up with this decision to cancel the BOE meeting, this is Mayor Joe Ganim’s decision to follow in the steps of former Bridgeport mayor Bill Finch, to take over the BOE.” This is Mayor Joe Ganim’s attack on the Bridgeport voters by this effort by Dennis Bradley to remove someone whom the Bridgeport voters voted for because they wanted her on the BOE, now Ganim wants to take the voters of Bridgeport’s ability to select whom they want and to take the voters’ rights away from them by getting rid of Maria. Well the voters didn’t like when Mayor Finch attempted the same thing and they won’t take Mayor Ganim doing the same thing.
Ron, I posted above my “theory.” I think this is Mario Testa driving and planning the “takeover” of the BOE giving Testa more patronage power and Ganim is facilitating Testa’s pet project. I am not sure if Ganim really wants to get deeply involved in the BPT/BOE school situation because, in lots of ways, it’s a no-win situation and I don’t think Ganim wants to get entangled in a no-win situation. That’s my opinion.
Once again this is great news, below is what Mayor Ganim’s position is:
“What’s Mayor Joe Ganim’s opinion of the boycott?
“His spokesman Av Harris says, “This is another unfortunate example of dysfunction on the Bridgeport Board of Education. There’s some pretty ugly politics on the board when they should be focused on doing what’s best for the kids and not using the board as a platform for a political agenda.The mayor would like to see a good and functioning board and this obviously shows this is not happening.”
So Mayor Ganim agrees with Maria Pereira’s position, great. Right?
Well Mr. Mayor, tell your appointee to get to work!
Damn Andy, you can tell by your comments and insights you’ve been around a long time also. From Ganim on down, they are so frightened of Maria Pereira, they will sacrifice our BOE. Ponder this, why should they care, Ganim’s kids never saw the inside of a Bridgeport public school, Testa never procreated, thank God, Bradley has no children, do you really think there’s any empathy in that trio for the kids? For every day this situation drags on, the attention and incompetency of the Mayor is deferred, Mario is still like the Wizard of Oz, and since I doubt Bradley has any practice to worry about, he has nothing but time on his hands. A leader would be sitting with the two elected Republicans and demand they attend the next meeting so BOE business can resume, he would also shock those who didn’t support him with his first act of leadership in nine months. Where are the Mayor’s advisors? Are they just calculating their salaries for the next three years, if they last that long, and is Ganim working on his backup plan when his gig is finished in three years? I’ve witnessed these private “glee parties,” they’re watching Dennis finish his career, and giving high fives to each other for the luck they had in finding this buffoon who is so willing to do their bidding. As I’ve said in another post, the Democrats in Bridgeport will get rid of Bradley at the appropriate time. Since there’s at least a 3 to 1 margin, they don’t need me. However, if Mike Garrett gives me any indication the RTC will not nominate the two “bucket boys” doing the business of a Democratic Mayor, I will work for whomever the RTC nominates when these positions become open, I have experience in organization, I’m one of a few in this City who can manage an honest AB operation, City wide, I can help with voter registration, and I have an innate ability to communicate with voters, “big gulp on this one,” I helped get Ganim elected, that took some doing. I’m sure there are many Republican and Unaffiliated voters with children in the public school system. I’ll work their primary if there is one, and the general election will take care of itself.
Lisa Parziale, if you need any help in Brooklawn, I can do some walking to get organized.
Thank you, Frank. I was just telling Howard I wish you lived in my district.
I haven’t read a single comment at this point, but I must say I am nauseated by what Mr. Bradley is insinuating. There is now no doubt in my mind a state takeover IS his endgame.
“Bradley says calling for a state takeover of schools, at this point, is not on his radar but could be a consideration down the road.”
“All options are on the table to put our district forward.”
Statements like this, combined with the campaign contributions he accepted from certain pro-charter school organizations, show he has no true loyalties to the BBOE. I am not condemning charter schools or those who support them, but there is no place for them on a public school board. Mr. Bradley has shown he will support anything to further his fledgling, faltering political career. What he will someday learn is when you stand for everything, you stand for nothing. In the meantime, he is working to once again take away the rights of the Bridgeport citizenry to elect our board.
I truly fear this is yet another step in a concerted effort, with Mr. Bradley as the spokesperson, to persuade the SDOE to turn the operations of the BBOE over to the mayor’s office. First, you call the BOE dysfunctional, then you persuade others to call the BOE dysfunctional, then you throw up your hands and admit there’s nothing to be done, then …
Walk off the playground and take your ball with you because you’re not getting your way.
Mr. Ben Walker, thank you and please continue to stand strong for the children of Bridgeport. They are the future and some are trying to screw that up.
Frank, don’t think we’ve met, but you are the frickin’-dickin’ MAN! Shout it! Maybe someone on this blog will read this notice and show up. Internet and blog muscles are sooo powerful. Let them know how you feel about the abdication/coup.
Or they could just sit at home and blog about how all BOE members are jerks and should all resign and crawl off and die through painful crucifixion upside-down just because we thought we might be able to do some good! How effin’ dare we think that by getting off our fat arses and actually doing something we might help a child or two? Right, Andy? Buncha BOE jerks!
Or we could just sit at home and blog about our righteous indignation!
i reached out to some local Black Rock groups I work with. I texted Maria. No answer back. BUT I WILL BE THERE.
Bob, what is the point of this article? More money will solve the problem? Newer schools? Better supplies? Better teachers? All the above?
For those wondering where I stand on the issue of a State takeover, I would “never” vote for a State takeover of the Board of Education. I am also against the “privatization” of any Government entity.
Hector, the issue is where you stand on a lot of other issues. There have been complimentary statements about you but you have been 100% in Ganim’s camp since the primary, the election and statements during the last 10 months of G2. It seems as if Ganim can walk on water. We don’t see independence and impartiality. That’s the problem.
Frank, I’m asking you to trust me. I very rarely put my name on the line for anyone, but this time I do so with no hesitation. While Hector is kind to everyone, and a friendly man by nature, he would no more compromise his values for a seat on any Board or Commission. Please don’t underestimate him, if you knew how and by whom he was raised and taught, you wouldn’t doubt his integrity for a second. He’s a perfect fit for this Board, his daughter is proof of his love and loyalty to children, he grew up in politics, he knows the deal. And he’s the real deal.
Lisa, thank you. Your words and actions are truly appreciated.
Okay, Lisa Parziale. Let’s see what happens. Hopefully some type of compromise can be found to get the BOE back to work. This is the worst time for Bradley, Larcheveque and McSpirit to walk out. All members of the BOE just need to sit down in a room and clear the air and get back to business especially at such a crucial time.
Frank, I agree! Hopefully commonsense will prevail.
Mr. Hector A. Diaz, I like your stance.
Mr. Gary Tobin, thank you.
Tomorrow night Mr. Diaz is a good time to voice your pro Public Schooling stance.
Mr. Tobin, sorry, I wanted to stop by, but my daughter’s school had their open house today at approximately the same time. Please feel free to tap me on the shoulder and introduce yourself if ever we are in the same locale. It would be my pleasure to touch base with and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Phil,
I believe the first point of the article is Judge Moukawsher’s decision was right on the MONEY. There are so many things wrong with the current system, all of them need to be addressed.
The judge said the entire system is irrational. How does the state decide how much money each town is awarded? The judge cited the fact Bridgeport and other urban centers had cuts in their ECS funds while a better off suburban town like Branford gets an increase.
The judge touched upon the school construction program noting again there appears to be no rhyme or reason on how and why projects are approved suggesting it may all come down to political clout.
But the judge did not stop there. He took the teacher evaluation system and school performance standards also to task saying there exists no common ground for determining what is acceptable and what is not.
We can see the stark differences with our own eyes but putting together a comprehensive plan to move forward and to equalize educational opportunities is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Yes, money must play a role and if the state does not want to increase the pool then serious adjustments must be made to the allocation of those funds.
It will not be easy but trying to force the state to address these problems in a six-month timeframe is a reasonable start.
Perhaps it’s time to boycott any people involved in the BOE boycott and the puppet masters pulling their strings. We can start with boycotting Bradley’s firm and any businesses that affiliate with him. These boycotts can remain in effect as long as Bradley and his bullies continue their boycott.
How about boycotting and picketing Testo’s Restaurant? Little Timmie Herbst will need to find another place to eat, unless Mario delivers.
Frank, let’s picket, peacefully, the homes of the two Republicans who are responsible for this disaster, let their neighbors know what they’re really about.
Which of the boycotters have the courage to stand alone and get back to work? If one does the right thing the rest will follow. Anyone? Ms. Negron, you wanted the job and got it. Why not show up? If Ms. Pereira loses her case and you remain on the board only to lose out to a state takeover, what have you accomplished?
Bob, I understand funding and allocation of resources in an equitable manner are important. This shouldn’t be news to anyone including this judge. But what if the students are failing, not so much the schools? That’s a different discussion, isn’t it? I won’t digress any further as this has nothing to do with the issue at hand and I’ve already taken up too much space.
I recall a faculty strike at the University of Bridgeport many years ago in which the Leland Miles Administration locked horns with the UB AAUP local. This strike had followed a strike three years earlier involving the same players but which had failed to secure agreements on the bottom-line issues of both sides, accomplishing only the deferment of the creation and implementation of indicated solutions. This set the stage for later, unproductive strikes (and, ultimately, the near-failure of the University). In the meantime, students were denied the quality education for which they had paid, while the financial and academic health of the University steadily eroded. In the end everybody lost, and the failing university had to be rescued by an outside institution, which, fortunately for Bridgeport and the generations of UB alumni, resulted in a happy ending.
The common observable in this protracted situation was the shortsighted stubbornness and failure to appreciate the full view of reality by both sides in the issue. And of course, as is the underlying dynamic in all issues of human contention, money and power were driving the struggle.
So it is in Bridgeport with respect to all our difficulties.
But of course, it is necessary to consider Bridgeport in the larger context of being a part of a larger state government institution having a large measure of control over its governance and fate, and similarly with the State of Connecticut being a member of the larger US government institution.
In this context, all Bridgeport’s problems are also the problems of Connecticut and the US and can be logically connected to dysfunction and failure at these levels.
So while it might seem logical to focus on Bridgeport dysfunction as the source of Bridgeport problems, if the interrelationship of the levels of government is examined, it can be seen ultimately problems, as well as their solutions, need to be followed farther up the food chain.
And so Judge Moukawsher indicted the state for their role in the failure of local education systems.
Would this point to logic in addressing the problems of the Bridgeport public school system at the level of City Hall and the DTC?
No. Clearly it would not. If the State of Connecticut is statutorily responsible for the public school education of Bridgeport’s public school children, then they should be held responsible in the context of the state statutes and legal decisions describing that responsibility. And in this context, they should be holding the BOE responsible for maintaining their basic, statutorily provided role in providing direction and governance for the public school system. As Lisa Parziale pointed out, the refusal of the board to convene to execute BOE business is obviously illegal and actionable by the state. And previous legal decisions clearly indicate against the state reconstituting the elected BOE with state-determined replacements. Clearly, the state must force elected, sworn members to execute their sworn responsibilities and impose all appropriate penalties for failure to honor their sworn duties.
So: Any grassroots efforts should probably be directed farther up the food chain than Bridgeport City Hall. The Governor should probably be prevailed upon to have recalcitrant BOE members arrested/fined if they continue to flout state law in regard to their elected responsibilities/appropriate conduct.
And in regard to the UB analogy: The feuding sides in the Bridgeport BOE strife need to realize neither side is going to win. Both sides, regardless of whether their motivations are right of wrong, are only courting disaster for the public school system, city and their own interests.
If the state does its duty and breaks this BOE “strike” through legal or diplomatic means, the stage may be set for the remediation of other Bridgeport problems in cooperation with the state. (But federal statute directing states’ responsibilities to municipalities may also need to be invoked, and federal remedies pursued).
In any event: The solutions to Bridgeport’s problems don’t seem to be pursuable from within Bridgeport’s sandbox, and our feuding “children” will need to realize their breath-holding, foot-stomping and sand-throwing is only going to ruin the game for everyone.
I just read Leland Miles just passed away. His obituary stated he saved UB. BTW, does that Korean church still have any ties with UB?
Good to see you back on the blog, Doug.
We need a neutral broker, paging Max Medina!!!
I am sure Max would be more than happy to fix what ails the BOE … NOT.
Well he would be happy to fix it but pragmatic enough to realize that would require a long, long-term commitment.
Dennis Bradley, you are messing with the Bridgeport children’s livelihood. You don’t have kids and I may not be the smartest of anything but the one thing I know for sure is you don’t fuck with people’s children. If you had a clue on being a BOE chairperson, things could be better. But since you don’t have a clue on what in hell you’re doing, you have resort to withdrawal because you can’t handle failing or what you may think is losing to a woman.
Dennis Bradley, here are a few things to grasp and you should do one of the following, just resign and walk away or accept the fact there are many people smarter than you and some are women.
The position of chairman on the BOE doesn’t mean what you say goes, it doesn’t mean your personal or political agenda is what the BOE members will do or follow, it doesn’t give you control of anything or anyone. Accept the fact Maria knows more about the BOE and all its factors. Accept the fact you may have a degree but not a degree in Bridgeport Board Of Education. Accept the fact you are a male and Maria is a female and Maria is more knowledgeable than you. Accept the fact you can’t change any of the above by taking your bat and ball in hopes the game doesn’t get played.
The bottom line is your macho manly piss-poor attitude doesn’t make you more knowledgeable in BOE matters, it makes you dumb.
A little advice, when the bus loses control, Joe and Mario will throw you under it to stop it and your manly machoness will not help you, nor will your degree.
Okay. I will be there WEDNESDAY AND SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS TO YELL DENNIS BRADLEY, RESIGN NOW. PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO ASK FOR THE RESIGNATION OF DENNIS BRADLEY. THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GET THE WORD OUT TO MORE PEOPLE TO GET DOWN TO GERALDINE JOHNSON SCHOOL? WE NEED SOCIAL MEDIA HELP NOW!!!
LENNIE GRIMALDI. YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE POSTED THAT WEDNESDAY PRO-DENNIS BRADLEY ANNOUNCEMENT ON ANOTHER PAGE. IT GETS LOST UP THERE.
REALLY. REALLY. YOU NEED TO POST THIS WEDNESDAY MEETING SEPARATELY AND DO IT NOW. IT’S OBVIOUS BRADLEY WILL BE BUSING IN HIS PEOPLE.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE TOP TITLE OF THIS POSTING. DENNIS BRADLEY IS PLANNING A MEETING/DEMONSTRATION AT GERALDINE JOHNSON SCHOOL. EVERYBODY HERE NEEDS TO GET ON THE PHONE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE NEED TO BE THERE. TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, 5:15PM. WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
TOGETHER WE STAND FOR THE CHILDREN OF BRIDGEPORT AND THEIR FUTURE!
WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE INJUSTICE THAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS IN BRIDGEPORT!
WE CANNOT ALLOW MARIA PEREIRA TO CONTINUE TO TERRORIZE OUR COMMUNITY AND STALL EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE STAND UNITED AGAINST THIS BULLY AND WE CALL FOR HER IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION FROM THE BRIDGEPORT BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WHAT: Bridgeport Parent Press Conference
WHERE: Outside Sidewalk Geraldine Johnson School
475 Lexington Ave Bridgeport CT 06604
WHEN: Wednesday, September 14, 2016
TIME: 5:15pm-6:00pm
Okay. Thank you. Leaving the announcement at the end of the scroll instead of the multiple postings was a good idea.
Oh yeah, Jessica Martinez is really looking out for the BOE’s best interest. How about Jessica Martinez is looking to push her pro-charter schools agenda?
onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/school-choice-advocates-muscle-up-in-federal-court/
PEOPLE NEED TO GET DOWN THERE.
Regarding Maria Pereira and Jessica Muniz-Martinez.
First, anyone who knows Maria Pereira on any level, whether you love or despise her, knows to suggest she resign is as absurd as you can possibly imagine. She is a warrior and not looking to be accepted amongst a group she finds deplorable.
Jessica Martinez is an amazing aggressive woman who deeply cares about the Bridgeport youth. Her son is a current student in the Bridgeport Public Schools. Jessica Martinez cares deeply about the City of Bridgeport. She supports charter schools. So what! I support charter schools and am deeply concerned about the education of our Bridgeport Public schools. I do not have a charter school agenda. I do not have children in the Bridgeport Public Schools or Charter Schools. Giving parents a choice does not diminish an individual’s commitment to our school system.
Anyone who imagines Maria Pereira will resign is just plain ignorant. Anyone who doesn’t know Jessica Martinez and her commitment to her son, Bridgeport students and their education and her love for the city of Bridgeport are equally ill-informed.
These two woman with different agendas are strong and committed to their cause. Of course that is just my opinion.
Looks like we are getting down tomorrow at 5:15.
Charter schools DO “diminish” OUR public schools.
I will never understand, ever!!! Bpt, one step forward, three steps back. It is a total embarrassment. The children of Bridgeport will never have a chance. The city, the BOE, it’s all run by people who are just looking out for themselves. Blow it all up. Let’s have educators run the board.
Dennis Bradley has not shown up to his own rally!
Only a handful of Charter school parents showed up. I asked where the leader Dennis Bradley was. Nobody knew. He did not even show up to support the “grass roots” movement he called for. I saw signs saying I stand behind Dennis Bradley but no Dennis Bradley.