001Afternoon Dr. Avery. Good afternoon everybody. >> Good afternoon. >> And we are live. >> Okay. Thank you. Um good afternoon everyone. My name is Marissa Stra Himenez and I am filling in for our finance chair Jennifer Perez. This is a call to order of the finance committee. The time is currently 6:00 p. p.m. then this meeting will be held virtually. We have in terms of the finance committee members, we have Will Medina on the line. We also have other board members. Um Albert Benahan Graales on the line. Um and that's it in terms of board members. We also have Dr. Avery on the line. um and other cabinet members. Um so first thing on the agenda, we have approval of meeting minutes. Um the first one is regular meeting August 20th, 2025. Is there a
002motion for approval of those meeting minutes? >> So move chair, madam chair. >> Second. Any all in favor? I >> I >> Okay. Any objections or abstensions? Okay. Hearing none. The motion passes. The second item for approval of minutes is special meeting September from September 8th, 2025. Do I hear a motion for approval? >> So move. Thank you. And I'll second. All in favor? >> I I um any objections or abstensions? Okay. Hearing none, that motion also passes. Um the next item that we have is council a presentation of council of great city schools. Um, I believe they're going to present at 6:30. Is that correct? Or do we have them on the line, >> Marissa? I think you're correct. They're supposed to come on at 6:30. They had other commitments. >> Okay. Um Okay.
003So, can I have a motion to move um item number two, presentation from council of great city schools um down further on the line and if I'm not doing this like please correct me. This is my first meeting. >> No, don't move madam chair. >> Thank you. Um I'll second it and all in favor I Okay. Any objections or abstensions? Okay. Hearing none, that motion also passes. So, we're going to go down to item three, which is referral to the full board of the legal services. And I believe this will be a presentation from Mr. uh Pierers. Um would you like to take it away? >> Yeah, sure. Good afternoon, board members. Uh thank you for having me. Uh this item was the uh it was out to bid put out to bid in an
004RFP back in July. We had three responses come back. This is for the legal services for the board of education. The contract for the current attorney was up and uh we had to put this out to bid again. I think it was a long discussion in one of our few board meetings ago where uh it was decided to go ahead and and issued the RFP. Um as a result of this RFP, we had three law firms who responded. Um the committee met and they scored all of the responses. They review the responses and there's a uh a winner or a a selected firm based on the scoring and and the interviewing and that that that law firm is uh shipped within Goodwin. I believe you have the response. I believe you also have the um
005the score sheets of how the uh the committee uh graded and and and and scored all of the responses. And the next steps are now to um I need to file an application with the Bridgeport Purchasing Board to uh have them approve the process which is mandated by by ordinance and uh have it move to the full board for um enter into a contract negotiation with the selected firm. So that's that that's the the crux of what's before you today. Um, and I just need you to have any questions, I'm here to answer them. >> Thank you. Do I hear does anyone have any questions? I'll take a finance committee member questions first and then I'll open it up to everyone else. >> Yes. Uh, thank you, Mr. Pyus. How you doing? Good evening. >>
006I'm good. How are you, sir? >> Good, good, good. uh where where as far as the financial part of it um just to touch base shortly, how are they compared to the other two for firms that were um that were also in the process. >> So, so the criteria for scoring the RFP cost is one component of the that needs to be scored. This particular vendor was scored the lowest. They were probably the most they were the most expensive according to the to their response but they scored higher in the other categories which allows them to move forward. So let me caution you with that. So so in their financial um proposal they do allow you to negotiate their rates in terms of the the packages that you choose to to to to utilize them
007for for example. So they have a component within their their proposal that allows I'll get to that in a second that's on page 23 of their proposal which is the an alternative fee arrangements and under those alternative fee arrangements we can dictate to them what types of matters that they're that we're allowing them to to handle and what the cost associated with those um that those matters are. Again, I I think it's prudent of us on our on our behalf to utilize the city attorney's office for as much as possible, but there's always those matters that that could, you know, justify having an outside counsel and and and I'll let the superintendent and even the board chair decide which ones those are, but that's that's the um to answer your question, they were they were
008the highest Thank you. You're welcome. That's all right now, Madam Chair. >> Okay. Thank you. And for the record, I'd also like to note that board member Joseph Kovik has also joined the meeting. Um, are there any other questions? Okay. Um um can I have a motion then for referral to the full board of the legal services? >> So move by chair. >> And I'll second it. Any all in favor? >> I any objections or abstensions? Okay. hearing none. That item also passes. We'll go on to the next item. Um item number four, which is update from the chief financial officer on the current state of the district's finances. >> Would you like to take it away? You're welcome. Thank you, Tony. Nester, you're up, my friend. >> And you're on mute if you're talking.
009>> Okay. Yeah, there it goes. >> Good evening everyone. Good evening everyone. >> Well, as far as the current year financial report is concerned, it's generally too early. The first quarter is when you get an idea of what the trends are. Meaning after the first quarter which is after September we will do financial first quarterly report in October which gets published that's when we know actual positions were filled in the district as far as teachers are concerned so and that's when we are going to be able to project based on the number of teachers that have been hired and filled and positions not filled then we can try to determine uh the year end of what we're looking uh at and see where how everything is falling into place. So I can't really for now
010like I said the budget is tough the budget is tight the budget is quicky tight and I said it when the board was adopting the budget in a nutshell the budget contains almost $6.5 million in attrition savings. Attrition savings means positions that will not be filled or filled on time to generate that savings in salaries. However, if people realized or noticed or read the newspaper, the state technical team or the state made it a point most of the special positions have been filled. So that into the anticipated savings or attrition. So the $6.5 million savings in attrition will not be there because most of the positions have been filled. So that could dampen or lead into more stress at the end of the year. Uh the second one is the transportation that the state has
011indicated they found money or they're bringing back. The end result next year is is board going to where is board going to find the money to continue that service of providing transportation. So that's a daunting task of its own right there. And as far as I know there's articles going out in the paper the federal government is going to basically reduce all the title grants title title 1 2 3 4 and title 4 A or 4 B. That's a total of 3.8 8 million. If they federal government cuts those grants next year, that becomes another additional uphill battle for next year budget. I'm not trying to scare anyone, but I'm trying to relate the facts here of what we're going to be facing. Uh, one good news, um, one good news is that we ended
012up last fiscal year in the operating budget. Like I proposed, the board had originally adopted last year budget to use $26 million of the internal service fund, the savings that the city district had. And when I took over, I said that's kind of a little dangerous and kind of not prudent to use up all your reserve that I'm proposing to use $22 million and carry over a little more of it to balance this year budget. We ended up last year or the audit the year has been ended. The the controller's office have done what they call hard close. Hard close means the year has ended. All the entries have been entered into the letter. That's what hard means. Meaning it's just for the auditors, the external auditors to ratify the numbers, which is not a
013big it's not a to me the numbers are numbers. We only use $22 million just like I presented in my first budget presentation. So we contain the use of the unbalance last year to $22 million. That is good because we took a very proactive approach by doing operational freeze kind of somewhat hiring freeze also cut out all the seminars and conferences in the hotels. Every little bit helps. So we started early. I mean, it was middle of the year, but at least we tightened our belts is what I'm saying. To not have used the 26 million that the board had originally adopted of the internal service fund. We only used 22. That was my goal. That was my target. And that's where we ended up, which is good. But again, the board the board used
014up 9.5 million of the almost the remaining 9.5 million of the internal service fund to balance this year budget. What that means after this year, if we end up this year breaking even, there's no additional reserve for next year budget. So for next year budget for starters we have to look for that $9.5 million of reserve that we use this year to balance this year budget. We have to look for it for next year. Then you have about 12 to$13 million or 14 million actually normal cost of living increase that will reoccur next year. the normal 4% transportation increase that's different from extending the transportation the utilities um health insurance that goes up this year it went up 11%. The state health insurance rate then you have about $9 million $ 8.5 million of wage
015increase for all district employees. You add them all up, you're looking at $14 million. Tag on 14 million to the 10 9.5 that you're going to be looking for for the internal service fund that will not reoccur automatically. You're looking at starting next year with $24 million gap. Again, I don't want to scare people. I just want to put it out there or remind people the huddle or the uphill battle we're facing next year. Then the big question becomes, are you going to continue the transportation that the state has funded this year? There's no recurring money to fund it next year. The state budget is a bianual budget. By annual budget means FY2026 and FY2027 budget has already been adopted. We are not getting a penny more. The district needed anybody getting a penny more
016next year in next year budget which the state has already adopted for 2027. So there's no wiggle room there is what I'm trying to get to. So we're not going to say we're going to advocate. The budget is done sealed. You could we could go back under special session and advocate. But to be clear, we're going to be asking for not $24 million. We're going to be asking for no less than 30 $35 million from the state in order to stabilize this district. I mean, I hope I'm not scaring people, but I'm just relating the facts. >> Thank you, Mr. Nquilo. Um, and I do want to um add for the record um, finance chair Jen Perez has joined the meeting. Um, I do have a few questions um, in terms of everything you just
017mentioned, Mr. Nquro, and then I'll go around to all the different um, finance board >> finance committee board members and then I'll go um to the other folks as well. So, in terms of this bed con uh positions, you referenced the $6.5 million. Oh, uh let the record also know that board member Robert Traber has also joined the meeting. Um so, in terms of this bed positions that we have back that we filled finally, um which is great. You referenced the $6.5 million. Um, and now there's special education expansion funds out there. Can we use some of that money for the to fill that at $6.5 million? I realize that it that expansion money I believe was $5 million. So, it won't cover everything. Um, so that's the first question. >> The expansion money is
0182.6 6 million which is called the seed development grant and it it specifically says it's for development of new sped programs. So and it was that's what was part of what was used to balance this year budget. If the board remembers, I applied it towards balancing this year budget with the understanding that we will move some of the sped expenses into that program by redesigning the program as a new program. So, the money is already spent is what I'm trying to say. Yeah. >> In balancing the budget. >> Thank you. Um, last item is about the transportation negotiations. Um, do we have clarity as to how transportation costs went down so significantly from what we were originally paying? My train of thought is if can we duplicate that on our own to reduce our transportation
019costs? >> I'm not privy to that. I'm going to let Dr. Avery answer. I I I have no idea what this city is doing. I'm sorry. >> I I'll I'll uh through the chair, madam. Uh one of the things that that I want the board to kind of realize is that the negotiation between, you know, uh the city and the state has been a negotiate between the city and state. We are we were kind of involved with that, but those final numbers, they're still negotiating those final numbers with the state. So, we're not even privy to that. We we balanced our budget based on what we felt we were going to be able to have to pay for transportation. They're negotiating some things to try to figure out what and how they're going to, you
020know, um subsidize and extend that out. So when they came out with they wanted to extend that that that walking distance back down to the original number, we went with that based on what they were going to be negotiating. So Nester and I were still, you know, working through trying to figure that out. You know, we went with what they said that they were going to be able to negotiate. They're still trying to finalize those numbers. uh you know it was far away from what we calculated as as the number that we were going to be part of our budget and those are the numbers that we calculated. Uh again totally different than what we have but you know we're going to hold them to whatever they negotiated with the bus company and the city
021to try to balance you know what we have. So again, that's what we have. Uh and we're not privy to any other numbers other than what we provided those numbers to the board. Am I correct, Nester? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Um as a matter of fact too, Madam Chair, I read in in the paper that reing transportation that's how I found out. >> Yeah, same. Um thank you. All right. So, first um person um Willie, you have the floor. >> Thank you. Um on that same note, Mr. uh Nuke, you mentioned the 645 savings and then you mentioned that there was a a program that Miss Menace mentioned about uh cost savings for special ed. What was that dollar amount you said? I think you said >> I think it's 2 I think it's 2.6
0226 million for seed program the attrition of seed program development >> is special the how I came to the 6.5 for attrition so people will understand >> we budgeted I think 4.5 million $4.5 million for regular straight attrition then we budgeted the elimination of of 20 teachers which gave us 1.7 million so close to 6.5 when you combine the two numbers that's how we arrive at the approximately $6.5 million in attrition. >> So instead of instead of reducing the 20 additional teachers, we literally almost filled all the vacant all the positions. >> Okay. The teacher position were regular teachers positions that we eliminated. As far as I'm concerned, it wasn't special ed. Um >> no, no, no, no, it was not special ed, but >> correct. So I'm talking >> none of those were special
023or no. >> But what I'm trying to say here is we in in aggregate we factored in 6 to save $6.5 million by delaying or you know not filling position uh teaching position or other positions you know immediately. But again from day one they all filled the school started. We only have like three spare teach positions that are not filled and we're still interviewing to make sure we fill them. The state wants it to be 100%. >> We're still interviewing to fill them every one of them. >> So why are we with all due respect why are we not getting a report of how we closed out last year? That hard close that you mentioned everything. why are we not getting any report as far as you know that I I was you know expecting
024according to this that we're getting any update uh and I'm not really feeling that we got any kind of update right now so far uh as far as where we are know that you mentioned about you know later on in the quarter then we'll get an update where we are because of this year but I thought we will get some kind of report especially what you just mentioned about the hard close where we ended up at, how we did, you know, all those details, even including even including those positions that were, you know, apparently hired uh for the special ed that took off took up some of the savings and took up some of that $2.6 million that, you know, to me those numbers add up to almost 10 million. But I just wanted to
025know like why are we not getting anything right now? I thought we would get something and we're not, you know, I don't see anything. >> Okay. Uh, throw it on chair. When I when I when I say hard closed is when the controllers, not me, the city side of the budget, they do the ledgers to the auditors. A hard closed means they basically rolled over or closed any other accounting entry for last year. That's what a hard closed mean. A hard means as far as the ledger is concerned, no one can charge anything. Whatever that's charged is booked there. The auditors have to review all the all those transactions and confirm that this is all the entries, all the expenditures, the variances are all accurate. I cannot provide you a number prior to the auditors
026looking at them. I could give you where we ended in October. That's when is due a preliminary number, but it's unudited number. just for clarity, but that's where most likely it's going to end. >> Na, let me let me let me let me chime in a little bit. Mr. V, that report is coming. He is actually in the process of finalizing that report. Uh, so you the board will be provided that information shortly. >> Dr. Dr. Yeah, without with all due respect I don't want to lead them into what is not on the timeline. October the last year where we ended our preliminary number before the before the auditors finalize it will be presented to the board in accordance to the timeline. I mean that's when it's due. That's when is generally confirmed by the
027board agenda. >> I just don't want to mislead them and try to No, there's a timeline. There's a deadline. I have to provide it then. I cannot jump the time. I I can't. Okay. The controller's office are still making journal entries. I cannot provide you a number prior to the journal entries being made is what I'm trying to say. I just want to be clear, >> Mister. I think he understands that. I think what what I think the the the agenda item tonight was just for an update and that's what you provided. Uh and I'm okay with that. And so, uh just I wanted to make sure that Mr. M was clear that that report is going to be coming. Tonight's agenda item was to give you an update of where we are. We we
028at two weeks of slow trying to make sure that everybody understands that we're trying to get all the fires done and all that. That's what tonight is all about. So, okay, >> good. We're clear. Let's keep it moving. Um uh Mr. Mines and uh we will ask, you know, any other additional questions. I I'll follow up with the individual board members as needed. >> Thank you. >> Um Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Himenez. I wasn't >> Oh, yeah. I was going to ask you if you had any further questions. Yes, I I actually do. Um, he mentioned I just want to make sure I wrote it down right. That's in this part. Title one, two, three, and 4a. Uh, possibly because of the president or whatever. It's about 3.8 for next year's budget that possibly is
029going to be cut. So, we need to kind of like keep that number in mind. That's the number, correct? 3.8. >> Yeah, 3.8. >> Thank you. >> Just for clarity, that 3.8 8 920,000 of that 3.8 Aid is lighthouse program which if you want to disc but it does ultimately it does impact the district because granted is lighthouse program 920,000 of that is lighthouse program what it means is that we're not going to be providing they're not going to be providing lighthouse program to brick for children ultimately one way or the other it will affect brick for children >> well let me add to that number uh something that can help us as the board. Uh can you guys provide uh through the the superintendent that 3.8 and how this does break down on services
030that we can have that breakdown that way we can start thinking about those services that are going to be affected through that 3.8 that'll help us. Uh on another note, uh just wanted to find out because I some things have been thrown around in the media, some things been thrown out in the news, some things have been thrown around in uh uh through the state uh board of education, some things have been thrown out even with uh uh our uh leadership uh uh about the transportation and what's happening with the transportation. Uh, you know, I I've heard multiple things and I've read multiple things that the, you know, some city council members are saying that the city put money in and then they're saying that they didn't. I'm getting um I'm getting information, you know,
031uh, now today that the city and the state are still going, they're still negotiating. I thought this was already ironed out and done. Um, so I'm just very uh concerned about the misinformation that's been in. I mean, we just the state just did an audit of according to them only a $14 million piece that actually they saw a a $16 million piece of of money that was, you know, done wrong. So, I had questions about that then and now we're still wondering what's happening with this whole transportation. Uh, again, I will put in quotation supposedly negotiation that gave us this great savings that we were able to restore the services. Um, so I don't know. You know, they even mentioned in their newscast that they found out that their superintendent, supposedly ex- superintendent, had a
03210-year contract, which wasn't true. So, I'm trying to figure out where the truth lies with this whole transportation um, city state deal or with negotiation. I don't know. Is is it done? Is it still happening? Do we know the numbers? I'm just now I'm even more concerned and alarmed. Mr. Vina, uh, through the chair, I can let me clarify what I know. Mr. Vina, the the state of Connecticut and the city of Bridgeport worked out a deal where they were communicating with the transportation department that we we transport that we contract with. They've been working trying to figure out making sure that we did not want to start the school year with the kids walking the extra mile, be it elementary school or high school kids. So, they've been working together trying to figure that
033piece out. They told us, they've told the community that they will take care of the cost of of reverting back to the original transportation mileage for our children to be able to not have to walk the extra miles. So, what we've done is embrace them saying that they will take care of the cost. That's where we are. That's all we know. That's all I've been told. That's all Nesser has been told about being able to do it. So, what we did, we've communicated to our families that we're going back to the original knowledge that we allow for elementary and high school kids to travel. Uh, and from that point, we're relying on the state to be able to take care of the cost of that. That's where we are. That's what I've communicated to the
034board. That's what Nesser has communicated to the board. and that's what we're standing by. So any additional cost for transportation that is needed, the state of Connecticut is going to take care of that cost. That's where we are. That's what I know. That's what you know, and that's what we're standing by. So again, I'm going on record stating that that's what was told to us that they would be able to take care of transportation costs so that our kids will not have to walk any further. So Nester, is that the same information that you received and that you have? >> Um through Madame Chair, that's precisely and I made it clear from the beginning. I wasn't preview to I read it in the paper just like most board members read. I wasn't preview to it.
035I I asked Dr. Avery. He said next door I have no idea. No one consulted me as to where the funding source is going to come from, how the state is paying for it. But one thing I will say here, the state taking care of it or trying to subsidize it. The funding is coming from the $5 million that the legislators allocated which is to be administered by by the commissioner. That $5 million for Bridgeport is only a one time one year one-time funding. What I'm trying to say here is nonrecurior. So the the issue here, yes, the state can use part of that 5 million for this year to provide relief for transportation. What happens 2027? When that 5 million is non-recurring in the state budget, where will the district or the board find
036that money to fund this extension next year? That's the big question. Thanks, Ner. Um, I just want to chime in really quickly to um have the ref record reflect that Miss Casemir joined the meeting, please. Um, Mr. Medina, is that for your questions? Do you have any further questions? >> Just a short two. Um, Nessa, you just mentioned that five minute. When are we, or this is maybe towards the superintendent, when are we going to get a a precise um allocation if she's going to decide to allocate the state department of education for that five minute that they're going to decide how we are going to be instructed uh to spend that money where because we can't have this $5 million waving up in the air and not knowing because we can't plan like that.
037So, do is there a timeline? Is there a process to finding out that because that five minutes continues to be kind of like >> just dangling over our heads, >> which is very disrespectful in my opinion. >> Through the chair, I can I can answer that question for you. Uh Mr. Mina, at this time I have made I have made a personal request to the state regarding those funds. I've given them the allocation of what I would like to see purchased with those funds. the board, Mrs. Perez, has also made that request to the state. So, we're at the at the beck and call of the of the state for that answer. So, I don't have an answer for you on that. Uh I've made a request for that. Jennifer Perez has made a a
038request for that on behalf of the board. Uh and so, we're still waiting for how those allocations are going to be presented to Bridgeport Public Schools. And so, that's that's basically all I have. And that request was made several weeks ago when we together as a board and myself, you know, where you guys ranked what you wanted to that money to be spent on that those those two recommendation has been presented to uh the state on the behalf of the district and so we have not heard that. So that's that's all the re you know and that's all the the um response we've received and that's pretty much nothing at this point. Okay, I'm asking that question because I know we've done some uh POS questions about some positions and some interviews and we're looking
039at, you know, upwards of $350,000 right now for these three positions that that that are up and around right now being spoken about and I just want to figure out where that money is coming from that way we can make sure that we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. But um thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate it. >> And for clarity on that, Mr. Regina, those those positions have already they're already part of the budget. They've already budgeted. Uh so there's no need for any additional dollars to be driven to those. Uh the board approved those already. Uh and that's what we we're just trying to kind of fulfill the the gaps that we already had uh in the district with with those positions being filled. So that's those are those are already there. They're
040already budgeted. there's no need for any additional dollars to be allocated towards those positions. >> Thank you, Dr. Avery. And I just want to ask Miss Perez, um, Chair Perez, if she had any questions. I saw you come off mute a few times, so just wanted to >> I don't have any questions. I just wanted to clarify what Dr. clarified it. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, Mr. Zakalovic, you have the floor. >> Thank you, ma'am. Um, yes. Um I I I was doing two meetings at the same time. Mr. Nicole, I missed uh what's what's that? What's the escalated cost? And asked for next year, the the total escalation that we're going to need. He said 30 or something. I wasn't clear. >> Again, is between 20. Again, it depend I'm going to put a
041range and I'm going to try to quantify. >> Yes. Yes, that's fine. >> Is between 24 and $30 million. Why is getting up to 30 million I I could say it now is all the V positions uh pretty much filled. So the attrition number will not will will not be attained. Meaning you're going to have to find those monies or find the savings for or cuts to make up those savings as factor that will not materialize because we just about fill every just about every special ed position and ELLL position. So carrying them into next year again will extend the burden. And secondly, the extension of the of the restoration of the transportation like I said the funding source wherever the state is getting the money which I'm not privileged to >> is non recuring
042so the district it's either the district or the board will maintain that transportation then they have to find the money to maintain And it >> gota okay my my next my right the next thing is I don't want to belabor the points because Mr. Medina made them perfectly but I just want to bring up that um we still got to sign this contract. We're still obligated to whatever contract we got. The board is the signatory on the contract not the state. And we're justifiably relying on the states and the city's promises for this funding. And we've got a set budget for transportation. And I just want to be very clear. If the state and the city drop the ball and this deal falls through somehow that we are not to make up that gap without
043the board coming to without it coming before the board to approve it because if they break their promises to restore that funding, that is not on us. That is on them. That I just want that I just want that to be perfectly clear that we did not make that promise to the bus company. The city and the state made that promise. They're negotiating the deal, so they own every single dollar that's extra that's coming towards it, not the board. And now, um, question. I've gotten some reports that we are no longer going to be a onetoone district on laptops and, uh, devices for our K through8 schools. Can you tell me a little about that? Is that funding related or something else? >> You're you're hearing things through the chair. I'm sorry about that. you
044know, um, uh, I have not heard that, Mr. Sakovc. So, uh, you you're gonna have to kind of get with me on your your your your source of information. Uh, so nothing has >> five different teachers. >> Excuse me. >> Five different teachers and an email coming out of um, Mr. out of the IT department >> and they're going back to being budgeted at the school level. All I can do and all I can say to you is that is if nothing's coming from my office regarding that, you know, move and so as soon as I uh get off this call with you, I will be talking to the the technology director for clarification uh because nothing has come from my office as uh the move from a one to one device. So u I
045apologize for your for that getting to you and not getting to me and so all I have to do is ver check and verify and that's what I'm doing. No problem. Can you have a report by the that you think you could get it by the board meeting so we could get an update? >> I I can't guarantee you that, sir. I will find out what I can find out and then I will get some clarity as to where that information is coming from. So, I'll have some somewhat of an idea for you Monday uh by Monday's meeting, but uh I can't guarantee you exactly a detailed report or of anything. So, I'll get you what I can and I'll give the board an update at that time. >> Okay. Thank you very much. That's
046all I have for this mad chair. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sakalavik. So, we are going to return to our second agenda item, which is the presentation from council of the great city schools and we have Mr. Hart with us. Thank you so much um for your patience while we work through that. >> Uh that's quite all right. Thank you all very much for having me. Uh, so Chair Perez, uh, members of of the board of education and, uh, superintendent Avery, this honor and pleasure to be here with you. I'm Ray Hart. I am the executive director with the council of the great city schools. And, uh, just wanted to share a few things with you. My understanding is that you just wanted to understand a little better what the benefits of, uh, being a
047member of the council of great city schools. Uh, it means to the district. uh as well uh like to take any of your questions that you might have about the services and the supports that you that we provide. And um you just had a conversation at the the time that I joined about your title one, title two, title three funding um other funding uh title four and other funding that comes from uh the federal government. I just want you to know and I'll share with you a little bit about what we advocate for on your behalf. Uh we have been diligently, as a matter of fact, I was on Capitol Hill uh this afternoon. I just left um a couple of meetings there to come back and join this meeting. Uh and I'm going back
048to some other meetings uh here in Washington DC. But our advocacy is really to make sure that uh the funding that uh comes to you from the federal government um from an advocacy standpoint. I'll talk about other supports. Um the funding that comes to you from the federal government uh comes uh directly to you and is earmarked for you. And I'm not sure if I'll be able to uh share actually I can't share my screen but I shared two documents with you and I was going to share my screen. Uh, one of the documents that I shared um, uh, earlier this afternoon is the the benefits of member services and one of the uh, funding figures on there is actually uh, what we advocate for for you on Capitol Hill and that is targeted funding
049directly to your school district that is targeted for the students that you serve. And uh, that amount comes to about $3.9 million um, last fiscal year. I'll be sharing a new report with you this year uh that will share this year's fiscal targeting. Uh but also know that for example this summer when uh your funding was withheld uh we directly advocated uh contacted worked directly with the office of management budget directly with the US department of education uh to get that funding released uh and worked throughout the month of July both myself and our team here uh to get that funding released for you. Uh those are the types of things that we do just in terms of advocacy. And then what we'll continue to do, you all mentioned the president's budget. Uh the president's
050budget is a proposed budget. U and throughout the throughout history um both on Biden from the Biden administration as well as from this Trump administration, the Obama administration, uh presidential proposed budgets uh never get enacted and uh we advocate um to ensure that that uh that additional funding comes to you. We'll do so. will continue to do so uh throughout this year as Congress works through um either a continuing resolution, which we um expect that they may do should there not be a government shutdown, or a full budget proposal, uh we'll make sure that those funds continue um uh to come to you un unhindered. The other things that I'll share with you uh that are important to note about council services for those of you who aren't familiar with the council of the great
051city schools we have been around uh since 1956 and during that time we have supported only the interest of large urban school districts of which there are 81 member districts around the country. uh you are one. But one of the things that we do, you mentioned um you know transportation uh obviously finances, food services, facilities, other things. Uh our primary role is to keep you connected to other major school districts around the country. And our objective is to make sure that uh both your leadership team as well as your staff have access to the best ideas uh best practices of your peers and your colleagues. I was in a district uh let this morning. Actually, I flew in from a district this morning to to join um my uh to join the meetings on that
052I had on the hill. Uh tomorrow I am in meetings here in DC and then I fly back to uh to districts tomorrow afternoon. I'll be in districts um tomorrow through the weekend. Uh I finish next week in Albuquerque, come back here and then I'm in Dallas. Uh I'm actually in Orlando, Florida at the end of next week. So uh our real job is to not only to provide support here in Washington DC but to provide direct support to our districts. The second document that I shared with you um is an overview of our member benefits and I'll talk more about that but uh essentially as you as board members u but as well as other staff um our primary role um in supporting you and that second document says supporting America's great city schools
053a summary of our member benefits. Uh if you glance through that document, what you'll see are a number of services around leadership, around governance, around uh management services. Uh everything that you do in the district uh we support in some way, shape or form by connecting districts to each other. Uh my visit uh later early next week um is actually an IT review. Uh in one of our member districts, we do human resources reviews, we do special education reviews all year long. We do HR reviews. You may um note that uh Milwaukee public schools as an example uh has had fiscal challenges. We have stepped in to support Milwaukee public schools uh over the course of uh this summer, last spring and this summer. Uh the state was withholding about little 40 $40 million plus
054uh from the school district uh because of some financial challenges. Uh we stepped in earlier in the summer. uh the state to to date uh after we stepped in has now released um about 32 million of the 40 million and we're working with the state to get the remainder of the funds released. So whatever you call on us for um as a council we will either connect you with peers or colleagues around the country or uh we will bring it directly pro provide direct supports uh to the district um in any way that you see fit. So um one just want to lift up uh what's available. It's the services that we provide are not just in um the academic side of things, but we do provide significant academic supports. As a matter of fact,
055uh later next week when I'm in Orlando, Florida, we'll be working with about seven of our districts uh all on mathematics. We are bringing those districts together to really improve mathematics outcomes uh for those districts at um at their request. So, we'll actually be working with seven districts. There are about 120 people who will be coming um to a program that we're we're supporting and lifting up uh to get additional work together across uh the state of Florida on improving mathematics outcomes. Uh we also do the same we'll be doing the same for core curriculum reading, math, science, social studies for another six districts in November. Uh so what you'll see in that document is just an overview of the services that we provide, the supports that we provide. Uh we are a unique organization
056in that we offer the services um and obviously uh there is uh there are dues your dues pay for our advocacy and support uh but we also offer additional services as districts request and so one of the unique things about us is uh we'll come in as you request and provide any services or supports that the district needs uh around any aspect of um instruction both instruction and uh management operations. side of the house for your districts. Uh finally, we provide a lot of advocacy for you here uh in Washington DC, which I talked about earlier, but we do work with Congress. We work with all of the departments here. Uh we have um interfaced this summer uh with Department of Homeland Security. We've also interfaced with the Department of Education. Uh as I mentioned
057earlier, the Office of Management Budget at the White House. Uh and so we still continue to work with those independent of administrations. So we are a nonpartisan organization uh independent of the administration that is in place. We have uh we continue that role and continue that support on your behalf. Uh we also host uh a number of rolllike meetings all year long for your staff. And so there are uh and it's a there's a list of them in the document. Uh but those rolllike meetings actually provide for your staff an opportunity to connect to their peers around the country. Uh those rollike meetings are in a number of different areas, finance, procurement, special education. Um we have uh groups around uh we have independent auditors that get together. Earlier today we had our chief human
058resource officers meeting uh role like meeting. We do those both virtually on a monthly uh basis or sometimes quarterly uh but we also have roleike meetings throughout the year. So, our annual fall conference, which is our largest meeting, will come up um in October. And that's primarily geared for board members and superintendents and cabinet level staff. But immediately following that, we have a chief financial officers meeting. Uh we'll have a chief human resources officers meeting in um the in February, chief operations officers, others uh throughout the year. So, just uh just to mention a few. Uh so, you'll see in there those roll meetings. What you'll also see are a number of reports that we produce. Uh those reports are free and and open to you uh as a district. Uh but those reports are
059really providing guidance to our districts on best practices. The interesting thing about the work that we do as well is that we don't rely on our staff expertise even though uh the majority of our staff have served uh careers in large urban school districts. Uh my last school district that I was a part of was Atlanta public schools where we have staff from around the country who've been actually staff members in school districts or schoolboard members for large urban school districts. So we have both. Uh but we don't always allow rely on just our expertise. What we do when we come in to work with you is actually bring in the expertise of individuals who are currently sitting in the role. For example, current chief human resource officers or recently retired chief human resource officers.
060I'm using those as examples, but whatever supports you might need. We provide those with those who have had extensive experience specifically with large urban districts. So, I don't want to take up too much of your time uh just in terms of my talking uh but happy to answer any questions that you might have about the services that we provide, the advocacy that we provide uh on your behalf uh not only um uh here in Washington DC, but then also our availability to you um in the district as well. Thank you, Mr. Hart. Um, I have a few questions and then I'll open it up to our finance um committee members and then to the rest of the group. Um, so it sounds like you can and your team can advocate on behalf of Bridgeport, not
061just on a federal level, but also on a state level and also a local level. So if you needed to support us, let's say city council in Bridgeport to get additional funds from them, would you also be able to do that? >> We can. So recently I testified before um the state legislature um in Kentucky um at the request of Jefferson County Public Schools. Um we interact with uh state legislators uh you know again as requested um and so it really depends on our district needs that your needs as a district but the answer is yes uh we can advocate on your behalf in a number of different ways. One of the things we also like to do um is we actually do quite a bit one of the core elements of the work that
062we do is around um research data analysis. So uh we have a research team. We're one of the few national organizations with a really robust research team. Um have one of the best research directors in the country here who also served in one of our member districts. Um and ironically I came to the council uh initially as the council's research director. My background is actually in research measurement and statistics. Uh so prior to serving in this role I actually served as the council's research director for for eight years. and I also served in a school districts uh as research director over the course of my career. So, one of the things that we base uh our um advocacy on on behalf of our districts is actually utilizing uh data statistics, data analysis to really advocate
063for here's what's actually going on in the ground in the district to support the additional needs, the additional funding. We do that here in Washington DC, but we also do that locally as well. >> Thank you. And my last question, and I'm not sure if this is an appropriate question, but everything you said sounds great. How much does this cost? >> Ah, great question. Uh, so the the dues vary. Um, and I can't they went up. I I'll pull up while we're talking what your uh dues are for this year. Um, but the u they range between um and depends on the size of the district. So, it's all tiered based on the size of the district. Uh, it range between about $32,000 a year and $60,000 a year, but that 60,000 is for our
064largest um districts uh like in New York City, etc. >> And I mentioned earlier for every um for every dollar in dues you pay uh the direct services that we've been able to provide in terms of uh focused funding for you. Uh and that's on that second page of the document that I shared with you. uh benefits of of council member services, you get about $104 um for every dollar you pay in dues, you get about $104 back in what we've been able to target in funding for you from the federal government. So, it's actually you're you're paying for your dues about 100 times over um and what you get back in federal targeting for funding. >> Thank you. That's all the questions I have. Um committee members, do you have any questions? Okay, seeing
065no questions. Does anyone else from the group have any questions? Um, Mr. Ben Graes. >> Thank you, Mr. Menace. Hello. Hello, Mr. Hart. Question. Um, the amount of money is going to be every year or >> the dues payment. The dues payment is an annual payment. Uh, so it is it is every year annually. Um, and again, the return on investment is annual as well, but yes, the dues payment is annual. >> Can you repeat again how much what the amount you say? >> I'm looking up the exact amount. So, I'll give you in just a sec. In just two seconds, I'll give you the exact amount for um I'll give you the exact amount for your district. >> Thank you. Thank you. Many minutes. >> Any other questions while Mr. Hart looks that up
066for us? Yes, please. I'm sorry I couldn't get my hand up. I apologize. Um, >> no problem. >> And and I apologize because I'm running in between meetings myself. I got about three meetings uh happening at almost at the same time. But I have a like a basic general question. Um I'm not sure if we approach you guys or you approach us understanding that uh why Bridgeport at this moment in time. So, uh, we haven't approached you. Bridgeport has been a member of the council for many years. Uh, so you have not, this isn't a new membership for you. Uh, this is a membership that you all have, um, participated in for, um, several decades. I can look up the the exact, uh, amount. One of the things that you'll note, uh, and you all
067may be familiar with this in all of our member districts. So, uh, and I've got the exact figure for you, so I'll tell you what Bridgeport's dues were uh, last year. Beer sports dues last year were $38,940. Um that last year was actually the first year you have not paid dues. Um but you pay dues annually and you have paid dues annually uh prior to that. So about $38,940. Um our districts, our member districts actually um pay I mentioned there are 81 of them around the country. what is unique about um your district in the state of Connecticut which is similar to our districts around the country. Uh if you look at New York City, if you look at Chicago, uh even De Moine, Iowa, um Omaha, Nebraska, they are all members of the council.
068And what's unique is even though Omaha, Nebraska and De Mo, Iowa are not the same size as Chicago and New York, their unique place within their state um is that they are the largest urban district in their state. And so what is similar across all of our member districts is that your unique place is that you're the largest urban district in your state. It's a reason Jefferson County, Jefferson County is Louisville, uh Kentucky. Uh but Louisville um is looked upon very differently in the state of Kentucky than all the other districts in the state. Um similarly in many of our other districts, Nashville, Tennessee, uh Memphis, I would be in Memphis uh in a couple weeks. We were there about a week ago. Be back in Memphis. Uh we work with uh some of their
069state leaders there as well. Um, and the reason we do is because they are unique to the state of Tennessee. They are uh Memphis and Nashville, the largest urban districts in the state. They don't look like the other districts in the state. Bridgeport is very similar. Uh you will be unique uh across the state. I know you've got Hartford um other districts and actually they aren't eligible for council membership. uh our membership is only eligible to the either the largest urban districts in the state or uh to districts that have a minimum of 25,000 students and a minimum um city size of 250,000 residents. So we actually turn away more school districts than we admit every year. Uh so every year we get far more districts that come to us asking for membership uh than
070we actually admit to membership. Does that does that help answer your question? definitely part of it. Um, I'm gonna actually just uh take a seat back and I see Dr. Avery wants to add something. So, uh, I do have a followup, but go ahead, Dr. Avery. >> Uh, to the chair. Thank you, uh, Miss, Madam Chair. Uh, Mr. Hart, thank you for your your quick overview. I appreciate that. I'm very familiar with, you know, um, your organization and I think one of the things you you made a really good point about the uniqueness of Bridgeport. Uh, I am in the interim school superintendent role right now serving the board, serving the community. Uh, and we we're we're in a state where we're trying to figure out how to navigate with uh, the lack of funds
071uh, provided to large urban school district like Bridgeport. Uh, and we've been trying to advocate for dollars for years with no success. Uh, and I know this district has been part of the organization for several years. Last year, we started seeing the the lack of dollars to be able to provide for children in the district. So, we the the previous superintendent prior to me, you know, felt that, you know, and the board felt the need not to utilize those those funding. Right. Is there a an opportunity where, you know, your organization could work with us? We just went through a $37 million deficit. Uh we did we were we were able to balance the budget at the time, but we also as we look at our finances, you probably heard a little bit of that
072uh when you first came into the meeting uh to be able to work with us a little bit to uh uniquely try to provide, you know, membership, but because there is a huge need for this community. Uh, and we're pretty much kind of like by ourselves in this great state of Connecticut. Uh, and I think we have to do our business a little different. We have to we're going to have to kind of rally around other organizations to really put, you know, Bridgeport at the heart of what's coming up because at the end of the year, uh, this district will be devastated because we're not going to have enough dollars to do the work for children of this district. And so it's concerning uh and I think that's one of the way reasons why the
073board is so you know adamant about strategically figuring out how we're going to do this work. Uh and I know your organization does a really good job of supporting you know my leadership team you know and making sure they're they're sharp and they understand how to advocate what to do. Uh but right now we're we're we're at a state where we're we really don't know. we really need some help and I may need to reach out to you on a on a on a private note uh to have a deeper conversation about this. But I just wanted to kind of put that out there for you so that you could kind of understand the state that we're in. Uh and it's and it's and it's troubling for me as an educator of 30 plus years
074uh to be where we are right now in this district. So, uh, hopefully you'll be able to kind of take that in and kind of understand and come back with us with a proposal to kind of maybe, you know, uh, you know, provide a different level of support, maybe not the amount that we are are are entitled to pay right now, but something else. So, again, I rambled a little bit, but I wanted to make sure I gave uh, and hopefully bor you will understand why I did what I did to make sure of him understanding what what our needs are at the moment. completely understand what your needs are. Um, and you're um, you're not alone. Um, so obviously I mentioned earlier that we're working with a number of different districts around the country.
075Uh, you are still members of the of the council. By the way, um, you didn't pay your dues last year, but our bylaws stipulate that missing dues in a year doesn't mean that you're no longer members. So, all of the services that I talked about uh, are still available to you. Our resources are available to you. So happy to talk about that off offline about how we might be able to to provide some support for you um as we move forward. Uh and then we can also talk offline about you know any uh additional support you might need as we go throughout the year. >> Uh thank you sir I appreciate that. >> Thank both of you guys for your your passion because I heard it through that brief conversation and with everything that our
076superintendent said. So I would ask you know uh this committee to maybe I my recommendation is to table this matter that way that relationship can uh grow and then we can come back with a a a a plan um you know after you gentlemen >> point of order there there's no action item today so we're just hearing >> pres action item because I would love to have that conversation because you know we got to look at every avenue that can support and and an increase. And I like that uh that ratio that you know for every dollar that's being spent we're you know we're we're getting like 104. It's a you know we're getting a a return for our money. And right now, you know, uh with our current and future uh financial uh situation,
077every dollar that I can't put into the classroom, um it's, you know, being scrutinized and and looked at uh heavily and and and with our own heart. So, uh I do, you know, uh owe reservation on spending any kind of money, especially after I can't even get a hotel room to be able to get trained. But that goes beyond that personal. So thank you very much for your time. That's all madam chair. >> Okay. Um Mr. Nqual. >> Uh yes. Uh through Madame Chair. Mr. Hart. My question I guess from my understanding Bridgeport is the only district that's a member in Connecticut. Am I right or wrong? >> That is correct. Bridgeport is the only only member district in Connecticut. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Traber. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I
078I got disconnected, so I don't know if this got answered. And, um, uh, Mr. Medina had asked why Connecticut and I just I know that this organization was a part of us and then we dropped the ball ourselves and so I understand the financial question has come up and needs to be answered but it the organization has has been here for a long while and we were in the middle of doing some very constructive work before the ball got dropped by us. Um, so if we can afford to continue working with them, it may very well be very helpful to us and it's worth looking at. We obviously have a financial concern we need to deal with. Um, and it's a legitimate concern that we need to resolve given our current situation, but I just
079want to throw that two bit that that bit in, my two bits in. um that we were in the middle of doing some very constructive work and then all of a sudden boom they disappeared and we didn't understand why at the time but it turned out that uh the superintendent's predecessor just decided to drop it. Um, so we're revisiting the question of how we can have a constructive relationship with this organization. And that's I think where we're at is just looking at can we reestablish a constructive relationship that will be helpful to us as I understand it. And it's it's up in the air and that's all this is is the beginning of a discussion. So that's all I wanted to add. Thank you, Mr. Traver. Um, Miss Perez, >> thank you, Mr. Hart, for
080the presentation. Um, I think the reason I added it to this agenda was, um, you know, similar what Mr. Traber was saying that we, you know, we've had, we've been paying for this service for years, but we, as a board, most of us on the board, um, really didn't know what what that meant. So, uh, we didn't, we really didn't realize, um, the work that you've done for Bridge. I'm looking at the the PDF you sent over. Um and so um I think in in um looking at that and looking at to see what else you um the the the council can offer us and also um speaking with u my network of of uh board chairs who are also in um the council of great city schools. Um I just I know the service
081is um they there's a lot of uh great feedback from the other board chairs that I know who are are part of this um um organization and and just looking at what um you guys have provided for us even in recent years where we haven't been using the services that often um I think that that's something to take note of um because if if if we actually you know work together I think um that federal funding will be handy to say the least, but also also that I I like the the fact the professional developments that are offered for administrators. Um I think that's something that um that we can definitely use um more of. And I think I'm frozen. I'm moving out. I'm having bad Wi-Fi. I don't know if Okay, it's good. Okay.
082>> Um so um but yeah, so I just want to thank you for that. And I know that um so you know, there is no action on him on this. I just wanted a presentation for the board because um a lot of a lot of the board members are newer and like myself and um we really didn't know all the services that you provide. So when when we see you know hey um pay these dues and we're like well for what we don't know what what they're in for. Um you know I think u this puts it into perspective. Um and um you know that the return on investment is um is really what I I was looking for and I see that. Thank you for the presentation. Thank you very much and thank you
083for the request. >> Oh, sorry. Um, Mr. Graales, >> thank you, Mr. Minute. U Mr. Har, you say how long um this service is um with us for VOE? >> Be pardon. I I didn't catch that question. >> How long you say um your organization um the service is with uh for education? I'd have to look back to see when specifically uh Bridgeport became a member. Uh but we've been around since 1956. So, uh the organization um itself has supported again we supported just urban school districts. Uh and then over the years we've had different districts, but you mentioned earlier uh why just Bridgeport. Uh we only support most of the districts. Last I checked uh I think Hartford probably would be the only other one that may be eligible. Uh but for the most
084part um there's only uh one or two school districts in most of our states. Um Texas, California are exceptions, but uh in most of of the states, there's only one or two districts that are even large enough and have city sizes large enough to be eligible uh for membership. So it what's the reason that's good for us is we focus specifically on large urban school district needs. So uh when you talk about you know your interaction with your state, etc. Uh that's all we do. >> Correct me if I'm wrong because my question is if we pay this service every year because and I know Miss Perry bring it you know people like you say miss Perry we paying you know we have this service and we don't use it. I didn't know this is
085my second turn as a board member and this is the first time I heard that. So you want to tell me years back they was paint this and all the board member all the or superintendent um formers or board member never bring this to the board because this point on that >> um it it was voted on two years ago for us to be on the dues for it. Um, and then last year was brought before the board, I believe in October or November and tabled. Um, because I know we I think a few of us wanted more qu more uh uh details on there was three different items that were brought before us that day for memberships and we tabled those items like uh late October, November. So, but before that, the year before
086that, we did pay for the dues and we voted on that. >> Okay. So, okay. And then we paid for that and we never used it. And just so you know, you you are obviously we're advocating for you. So, uh you are and as members, uh we are again targeting funding uh specifically for you, for your district. Uh we did so again this year. I mentioned earlier um the way our um the way our board of directors or our bylaws are laid out, uh you have to miss two consecutive years of not paying dues to not become a member um any longer. But as long even even when you didn't pay dues last year, we still advocated on your behalf. So we're still working on your behalf here. >> Miss P question. Did we have
087more information what the um this organization do? What what they gave to Bridgeport public school? Because I didn't see in my in my my information >> what he just um went through the packets that he or he couldn't share his screen, but they're in our portal. It was added this afternoon. >> It's possible. You can send it to us. Do you send it to the madame chair, Miss Harris, and you can share with us? >> It's it's on our portal. It's it's we have it already. >> Oh, okay. Because, you know, >> we we got it. Yeah, we got it this afternoon. So, um Danielle uploaded it this afternoon. It shows um uh what they can offer and also what they've offered for and done for Bridgeport for the um >> this afternoon. I just
088got here. I didn't had a chance to see it. All right. But thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. And the total um you said what was your total every year? >> Uh 38 last year was $38,940. Um that goes up every year by there's a cost of living adjustment that the um our board of directors of which um the superintendent and one of your board members uh whoever is the board representative typically not typically sometimes the board chair but uh those two individuals are on our board of directors automatically. um but um that uh the committee, our board set up several years ago that uh that escalates every year by a cost of living um adjustment uh that occurs in November. So, um, just so you know, it's this year it would be, uh, for
089Bridgeport $39,991, but it hasn't in the last decade it hasn't gone, uh, it's been 30 basically in the $30,000 range annually. >> So, you don't know exactly how much every year they go up. >> It goes up based on the the, uh, inflation rate in November. So there's a uh every year it's it's only it typically goes up two or 3%. >> Okay. All right. Thank you so much. >> Any other questions? Okay. Hearing none. Thank you so much, Mr. Hart, for the great presentation. Um that actually concludes all the items on our agenda. Um do I hear a motion to adjurnn? So moved. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> any obst any objections or abstensions? Hearing none. Um meeting ends at 7:17 p.m. Thank you all for joining. Have a great evening.
090>> Thank you all very much for your time. Everyone, I'll reach out to you. Thank you >> for stay.