From Mayor Bill Finch:
Mayor Bill Finch today announced the next stop on his education listening tour will take place on Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m., at Jettie Tisdale School, 250 Hollister Avenue. The listening tour gives the public an opportunity to provide their input on the current status of all Bridgeport public schools.
“We want to continue to hear feedback from Bridgeport residents about the education opportunities that exist in our city,” Finch said. “We are ready to build on our successes and take whatever steps are necessary to accelerate improvement, raise graduation rates and help all students move to advanced levels of achievement in Bridgeport.”
To ensure all participants are heard, comments will be limited to three minutes per person, organization or group. Those wishing to speak at the forum should contact Joshua Thompson, Director of Education and Youth Policy, at joshua.thompson@bridgeportct.gov or 203-576-3975 no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.
The information gathered during the forum will be submitted to the Board of Education and the City Council.
Here we go again. The voters of Bridgeport made their voice loud and clear concerning Mayor Finch’s takeover of the Bridgeport Board Of Education that they wanted no part of his plan.
Mayor Finch Snow Removable Listening Tour is what the mayor needs to do right now because that is the issue at hand today.
*** Build on what successes? I’m just curious to know while the BOE is still stalling on a Vallas contract extension. Not like they have anyone else in mine or ideas that would fill the gap should Vallas leave! Got to take the public’s mine off the past snow debacle and upcoming city budget proposals, no? What better way than to ask the public for their ideas on education of which probably none will be taken into consideration. Did someone say more smoke & mirrors to help clear the political air? I believe the city’s public has been there and done these “political tours” in the past, no? *** TGIF ***
Ron, Mojo, and other fellow taxpayers:
When will the public get an opportunity to listen to the State of City finances? Word is department budgets are being put together at the last moment with little or no attention to goals/status or priorities of those who have to do the work. Monthly financial reporting has fallen to a lower level of timeliness, order and simplicity, information on variances, and basic accuracy during the past year, and Budget & Appropriations is less prepared in training, experience and holding regular meetings than they have been in years to know the reality of City fiscal matters. The machine is broken. The City can easily go broke. And the Mayor will doubtless begin to point fingers at scapegoats. But it is hard to have the finger-pointing work when you refuse to answer questions and only roll your eyes. This is what comes when members of an administration have over time co-opted all positive instincts of most Council representatives and by this action have corrupted our governance process. No checks. No balancing of departments. No oversight. No full attention to our Charter and Ordinances. No responsible monitoring or oversight by Council of financial matters! Sad but true. Time will tell.