Mayor Bill Finch has made clear in recent remarks that reform of city schools–following city voters’ defeat of his November ballot question to appoint school board members–continues to be a priority including a road tour to engage parents about their education insight. Come November five school board seats are up for grabs including two occupied by the pesky Connecticut Working Families Party, Maria Pereira and Sauda Baraka who’ve been a source of irritation to Finch. Could the Democratic Party establishment recruit petitioning candidates in an effort to defeat Pereira and Baraka?
The nine-member city school board operates under state-sanctioned minority-party representation. That means three of the nine members cannot be from the controlling party, in Bridgeport’s case Democrats. For decades that meant three Republicans sat on the board until Periera and Baraka shocked Republicans by finishing ahead of GOP candidates in the general election of 2009, assisted by Democratic operatives who now regret the support. (Careful what you wish for.)
Pereira and Baraka have been a toothache to the establishment, irrespective of the mayor and Democrats on the school board controlling the votes. So “frustrated” were the mayor and controlling interests on the school board by the “dysfunction” created by Pereira and Baraka asking questions about school expenditures that the BOE dissolved itself in July of 2011 in favor of state control that was eventually overturned by the Connecticut Supreme Court, restoring local control.
The Connecticut WFP picked up another minority-party seat last November with the election of Harding High School hoop star and former NBA player John Bagley and now most school board votes are a razor-thin 5-4, controlled by Democrats. Republicans are now completely extinct from the school board in favor of the Connecticut WFP, basically an anti-establishment splinter group of the Democratic Party.
In addition to Pereira and Baraka, Democrats Tom Mulligan, Leticia Colon and Bobby Simmons are up for reelection this year. Simmons has been voting in a bloc with the Connecticut WFP. Bobby’s public enemy number one, according to the Democratic establishment, who’s highly unlikely to be endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee at the party convention in July. If that’s the case Simmons must wage a city-wide primary in September.
But how do Finch et al. take out Pereira and Baraka? They must beat them in November by either supporting Republicans or putting up opponents running as petitioning candidates or on another minority party line.
So what was shaping us a sleepy election cycle for 20 members of the Bridgeport City Council and five school board seats might become a fascinating study in how the Democratic Party establishment tries to defeat the Connecticut WFP.
Stay tuned.
How Does Finch Defeat Working Families Party School Board Candidates? He doesn’t.
Finch can only defeat them by conducting an honest and transparent (and inclusive) process in education reform. Think that’s going to happen??? So easy and yet so hard.
*** Only by well-planned secret deception and more taxpayers’ money along with the usual political smoke & mirrors does he stand a good chance in defeating the WFP. *** TIME WILL TELL ***
Q. Does Paul Vallas, interim Superintendent (and administrative/advisory team from outside Bridgeport), successor to terminated Superintendent Ramos, represent “educational reform” in Bridgeport and to whom?
A. In less than one year “Change” in the form of:
** A five-year plan for curriculum, instruction, and academic alternatives and opportunities was formulated;
** A ‘balanced budget’ for the 2011-12 year was constructed, negotiated at multiple levels and put in place almost 10 months after it should have been completed by the previous frustrated and allegedly dysfunctional BOE with the 6-3 majority;
** The financial plan has been extended to five years, is school based for fairness and to show that dollars are focused on the youth in classrooms, includes public display of grants budgets never seen in such detail previously;
** The public has an opportunity to speak and be heard in terms of response as was not apparent in recent years. The Bridgeport Public Schools site has more factual and technical info for public information than most people realize.
** Learning materials are becoming available across the system, teachers have the prospect of training where necessary for classroom results, and technology and basic infrastructure is planned and getting ready for rollout as necessary for the plan.
Does this look like “education reform” to the Mayor? It is certainly change of significance. And change finds critics who disagree with direction or speed of implementation, or first steps necessary to take second or third steps. And there are critics who have visions without the ability to get from where we are today to some promised land.
Q. What is the Mayor implying by necessary “educational reform” that is not in play today? What does the Mayor indicate the Vision and Mission of the schools is? Are the Vision and Mission of the Bridgeport Public Schools the same? Where can we find them? Will the public listening sessions be held for all Bridgeport citizens/voters/taxpayers to attend, become informed and share viewpoints? (By the way, there is a policy and process that allows a school choice option for parents of Bridgeport youth. I do not know where to find the info, but since the Mayor has reportedly placed his child(ren) in Black Rock School though he does not live in that school district, wouldn’t it be wonderful if he publicly disclosed and posted FOR ALL PEOPLE the process, deadlines, etc.?)
A. Time will tell.
It looks like a good plan that has gotten some traction. What is Finch talking about with further reform? It’s time for the rubber to hit the road. The implementation aspect of anything is where the Mayor finds himself the proverbial fish out of water.
Can the Working Family Party win City Council seats? “… Connecticut WFP, basically an anti-establishment splinter group of the Democratic Party.”
How does someone who wants to implement change approach the WFP and whom?
The first step would be to raise $1 million from rich friends.
Second, hire friends like Lydia Martinez and Americo Santiago to handle 1000 ABs.
Third, lie like hell to the voters.
I’m going to be a little bit of a devil: What’s to stop the WFP from challenging the Democrats for City Council?
There are almost always a few seats that are cherry for picking. Why waste your time in a machine-controlled Democratic primary? Republicans aren’t going anywhere in the 131, 137 and 139. Go for the gold in the general election? My crocodile eye would be on a couple other districts as well, just for chuckles.
Callahan,
Shameful of you to be so devilish so early in the year. What do most City Council members have to brag about to their constituents?
Their knowledge of City finances that causees taxpayers to be frustrated and upset? NOT!
Their regular communication with all constituents where they listen and formally represent solutions? NOT!
Their vision and mission statements annually to their constituents? Are you kidding?
Their use of stipends and accountability for funds and activities to the public? NOT!
Need I continue? …
The Council members are vulnerable when the community becomes informed. And what if some “old-timers” featured instructional sessions like: RUNNING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL 101? Time will tell.
Maria and Sauda have done an outstanding job on the Board of Ed, Finch got what was coming to him with his sleazy move to change the City Charter. The voters are on to him. I would not be surprised if several WF, petition candidates or other minor parties win seats on the Council, as the last election showed the people are fed up with Finch. Even some of Finch’s allies on the Board opposed the Charter revision.
Oh by the way, Working Families Party is a communist group. Do your homework, please, someone.
barry, I think you should stop smoking teabags.