Kohut: BOE Takeover A Nefarious Plan

Independent mayoral candidate Jeff Kohut writes that state control of city schools is an “infamous part of Bridgeport’s history.” From Kohut:

The BOE Three must be returned to their Board seats and the state-appointed BOE sent packing

For a time–until the Tuesday Night Massacre of July 5, 2011–the only force of advocacy in Bridgeport municipal government that protected the interests of Bridgeport’s public-school children from the parasitic mismanagement of the Bridgeport public school system by the Bridgeport political machine, was a courageous, unified front consisting of three members of the Board of Education that refused to bend to the will of The Machine.

This “BOE Three,” comprised of Maria Pereira, Bobby Simmons, and Sauda Baraka, fought valiantly for the city and its children, but unfortunately, The Machine, aided and abetted by its proxy representation in the Mayor’s Office, ultimately won the fight to silence The Three by arranging for the self-destruction of the whole Bridgeport BOE and the ensuing, shameful takeover of our public school system by the state.

However; it should be noted that during the Battle of the Board at the Tuesday Night Massacre, the truth of the shameful conduct of the “Sham Six” of the BOE on behalf of The Machine and their man in City Hall–“Proxy 1”–was brought to light and put on the permanent record as an infamous part of Bridgeport’s history. Indeed, the wholesale abandonment of the public-school children by the Finch Administration during the entirety of the administration, and especially at their hour of need, will be duly noted in the archives of Bridgeport politics. The shameless politicization of the public-school system during the Ramos public-school administration will also be part of this record, if only as a footnote …

Regardless of the caliber of the members of the reconstituted, state-appointed Bridgeport Board of Education, it is a certainty that their level of commitment, and strength of advocacy, will fall far short of that of The BOE Three and what is required for the effective education of our children.

Although the rebel trio has regrettably lost their positions on the Board of Education due to a shameful, undemocratic coup, the war is not over. The Machine and Proxy 1 believe that they have succeeded with their nefarious plan to continue running the public schools as a patronage cow, through the collusion of high offices in the state (who, no doubt, belong to an affiliated “patronage club”), but they are in for a rude shock. The three have not been silenced, nor have the parents of the public school children of Bridgeport been placated and sidelined …

In the upcoming municipal-election cycle, the citizens of Bridgeport must listen to their hearts and consciences and find their way toward mobilizing in defense of democracy in Bridgeport by voicing their support of The BOE Three and demanding a reversal of the anti-democratic, wrong-headed decision by the State of Connecticut to supplant an elected, local Board of Education with a state-appointed board of non-residents. Furthermore, the citizens of Bridgeport must determine to vote in the upcoming elections–and vote with their heads and hearts with the well-being of Bridgeport and our children being first and foremost on their minds …

The Kohut Campaign takes the position that Bridgeport can, and must determine its own fate–including that of its public-school system. It also takes the position that the state takeover of our public schools was a terrible decision and must be reversed. Furthermore, the Kohut Campaign believes that The BOE Three are a vital force for the good of our city and our children and must be returned to service on the Board of Education.

In the coming weeks, the Kohut Campaign will have much to say about education. We believe that “We can make it in Bridgeport!”–without state interference, through the replacement of The Machine by public servants who truly have the best interest of the people of Bridgeport at heart. This must start in City Hall.