FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Av Harris, (203) 814-7992, av.harris@bridgeportct.gov
(Sep. 7, 2016) — Mayor Joe Ganim released the following statement reacting to a decision by Hartford Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher declaring unconstitutional Connecticut’s current public education funding formula.
“This decision by Judge Moukawsher is a game changer for our children. This ruling is a detailed, thorough indictment of how the state fails to provide an adequate education in Bridgeport and other poor school districts in Connecticut. I could not be more impressed by the strength of Judge Moukawsher’s decision. His well-detailed and logical analysis will be hard for anyone to disagree with or challenge. He is right and has given our children back their constitutional right to have to a fundamentally adequate education. For too long, students, parents and teachers in poorer districts like Bridgeport have been left to fend for themselves to carry out the state constitutional mandate to provide good quality schools. For years, we cried out that we cannot do it in poor districts all on our own. We simply don’t have the property tax base in our city to pay for the many services needed by the over 21,000 students in our district, many of whom are poor and come from challenged or broken homes. For the first time, someone has heard our plea and is holding the Connecticut General Assembly to a strict timetable to fix our broken system.
I would urge the Attorney General to listen to the words of this strongly written decision and not waste any more time or precious public resources appealing this case or fighting it any further.
We all want what our children deserve: a good quality education. A child in Bridgeport has every right to a great teacher, a safe learning environment, and the tools that are necessary to get a good education. These are basic minimum standards that students in wealthier communities have come to expect. Now, finally Judge Moukawsher has resoundingly agreed that the State of Connecticut has a responsibility to ensure that every child in Connecticut has access to a quality education.”
Dalmarys Matos
Communications Assistant|Office of Mayor
City of Bridgeport
Margaret E. Morton Government Center
999 Broad Street|Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: (475) 225-5434
Email: dalmarys.matos@bridgeportct.gov