Speaking Of Schools, Gomes Says Students Used As Pawns

From Democratic mayoral candidate John Gomes:

The proposed Bridgeport Board of Education budget plan for 2011-12 in the amount of $215.8 million includes the closing of Dunbar School and the layoff of approximately 430 board of education employees, to include teachers, administrators, counselors, social workers, clerical workers, custodians, aides, coordinators and special education bus drivers, crossing guards, outreach workers, and technology and facility support staff. This number accounts for approximately 20% of the BOE employees.

In a Bridgeport public school system where statistics shows a significant lack of achievement among the student population in meeting the basic standards in providing a quality of education for every child, such a proposal is unthinkable. It is irresponsible. The hope and faith of the City will continue to be diminished and fade away because our children’s future will be non-existent. In an education system where statistics shows the dropout rate close to 25% and failing to meet academic requirements at the state level year after year and yet we expect more from them. How can the system graduate “each student college ready?”

A chess game is being played by the Finch Administration and the Board of Education, where our children are being used as pawns. Enough! I urge all the parents to come together and demand a true accountability and transparency in the budget numbers proposed and how the dollars will be spent.

How can we look at building new schools and yet the proposed budget is asking to destroy our children’s future? The quality of education is not measured by a new structure and its environment friendly surrounding but by the academic achievements in each classroom and the graduation rate. How can we continue to have take-home cars for city employees who do not live in this city and yet we can’t afford a book for every child to take home? How can the city continue to hire new employees based on whom you know and continues to maintain ghost positions every year in the budget and yet we can’t afford to have more teachers and/or aides in the classroom? How can the city continue to buy more and more machinery, tools and vehicles while the budget proposes closure of schools and the layoff of social services staffing and special aides for our children who are physically challenged? How can the Mayor and his administration take a 3.7% to 4% raise each year for the past four years and the Superintendent gets health benefits for him and his family until the age of 65 and yet the budget calls for a 17.5% increase cost for the staff towards health benefits?

As a parent I will not accept this, I will not stand for this, and as a taxpayer I demand true accountability. Our children are deserving of every opportunity to succeed with a true quality of education. As a candidate for Mayor I call for the exploration of all options to reduce costs, before considering the drastic measures the Superintendent has presented. I call for the implementation of best practices to measure true efficiency within the current system. If the BOE can ask to jeopardize the future of our children with its budget proposals for 2011-12, than we as parents have the right to ask for a forensic audit of the entire government (as a whole) structure of Bridgeport: City Hall and Board of Education.

Demand your rights as a resident, taxpayer and a voter. Enough is enough! As parents, let us call for a checkmate. We must stop those who would want to deprive our children of a future for them in Bridgeport that holds promise.