Greetings to the general public and the Bridgeport Education Community,
I am writing tonight (Saturday, July 27 at about 7:30 PM) to alert you to the language in the agenda for Monday night’s Special Meeting of the Board of Education, which is the first opportunity to meet after the individual evaluations were turned in. The goal would be to move toward drafting a written evaluation that will be shared with the superintendent, and then later the public. Here is what the notice says:
“Discussion and possible action concerning the employment, performance, and/or evaluation” of the Superintendent and “Amendment of July 2023 Employment Agreement with the Superintendent including but not limited to Term, Compensation and Fringe Benefits Provision.”
The evaluation is the only item that should be on the agenda. The process includes a draft that is shared before the final evaluation. The evaluation will not be completed by the close of the meeting.
The Superintendent’s current contract, unlike those of prior superintendent contracts, does not contain language allowing the superintendent to request an extension. To grant an extension that cannot be requested without negotiation would be yet another fiduciary duty we as elected officials have failed to carry out.
Any consideration of re- opening a settled contract by the board must be done in full view of the public. Otherwise, hard-won provisions such as the residency clause could be taken out without negotiation and without the public’s knowledge. It would be improper and foolish for the board to even consider re-negotiating any portion of the Superintendent’s contract prior to the completion of the evaluation process.
I will be making a motion to separate the two items on the agenda and to postpone any discussion of compensation until after the completion of the evaluation process.
Joseph Sokolovic
Bridgeport, CT
Sokolovic is a member of the Bridgeport Board of Education