Bridgeport Public Schools officials told The Connecticut Mirror that the district will not pursue the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) fiscal oversight program at this time. Board members said the process is not yet ready and does not address the district’s immediate budget needs.

Board members explain why MARB is off the table

Board of Education member Rob Traber said the district explored the MARB option in June while trying to balance its budget. He noted that the program was still being developed and had no funding available, and that Bridgeport does not need it to close its current gaps. “There are serious questions that we need to have answered,” Traber said, adding that the district has “no need to proceed with MARB right now.”

Another board member, Joseph Sokolovic, warned that participation could limit local control. He explained that districts must submit detailed financial plans for state review and could be pressured to make operational changes, such as consolidating schools or reducing staff, to qualify for any assistance. “You basically gotta do what they want,” Sokolovic said.

Financial challenges remain

Bridgeport’s budget shortfalls have been significant. In November 2024 the district reported an approximately $38 million gap for the 2024‑25 school year, after initially adopting a budget with a $26 million shortfall that it planned to cover with reserves. A state‑commissioned audit later projected an about $39 million deficit for the 2025‑26 year, largely tied to the expiration of more than $150 million in federal pandemic relief.

The district is already under a separate state education intervention that began in 2025 after a multimillion‑dollar deficit. That intervention is distinct from the MARB fiscal oversight process. Bridgeport also completed an independent forensic audit that produced 34 recommendations for improving financial oversight and internal controls, and a second team has been brought in to help implement those recommendations.

Union and administration focus on legislative funding

Jeff Morrissey, president of the Bridgeport Education Association, said the teachers’ union recognizes the district’s financial challenges but does not support voluntarily entering MARB oversight, fearing it could create more problems than solutions. He also expressed concern that an additional layer of oversight could complicate decision‑making as the district searches for a permanent superintendent.

Both Traber and Morrissey said the district’s priority is to advocate for additional education funding through the Connecticut state legislature, rather than rely on a state‑run fiscal intervention that offers no guaranteed money.

State officials have not commented

Interim Superintendent Royce Avery did not respond to a request for comment on the board’s decision.

Bridgeport’s school board will continue to monitor the MARB process and revisit it if the state clarifies how the program would work and if additional funding becomes available. For now, the focus remains on legislative advocacy and implementing the recommendations from recent audits to strengthen the district’s financial health.

Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.