Bridgeport schools want security and police but not the costs
BRIDGEPORT CT Jan 16 2018 — Pressed for cash, members of the city school board are looking to stop footing the bill for police who cover district sporting events.
Facilities Chairman Chris Taylor, whose committee is recommending the action to the full board, said his intent is not to end the coverage but rather shift the expense to the city.
“It is a police responsible to keep children safe,” Taylor said.
The school board cut school police officers from its budget two years ago to save $500,000. The nine school resource officers now supplied to the district from 7:30 am to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, come from a federal grant awarded jointly to the police department and school system.
In addition, the district has 82 security guards on its payroll.
As such, board members were surprised to learn the district still getting bills, adding up to $100,000 annually for police coverage at after school events, primarily for athletics.
The number of police assigned depends on a formula that takes into account the anticipated number of visitors. The police are supplemental to school security guards already assigned to those events.
“We are paying for something we shouldn’t be paying for,” Board Member Maria Pereira said. “Students are city residents, entitled to safety and protection.”
Even if the board wanted additional coverage at its events, Pereira said the board would be obligated under the city charter to go out to bid and not just hand the work to city police.
The city school board has been in a deficit prevention mode for several years, annually making deep cuts into programs as funding stays flat and costs continue to rise. That situation is not expected to get better anytime soon.
“Even if we had (the money) I wouldn’t pay it,” Taylor said. “I like seeing Bridgeport police there. It shines a better light on the city. But not at the expense of the Bridgeport board of ed.”
Board member Hernan Illingworth said he supported the effort as long as it doesn’t jeopardize student safety.
When it was suggested the district could start calling for police on an as need basis, Sgt. Angelo Collazo, supervisor of school police and security, warned that the response time would depend on what else is going on in the city.
“See how long it takes,” he said.
Still, the committee voted unanimously to recommend that Marlene Siegel, the district’s chief financial officer, not pay any further police overtime bills and to ask for a meeting with Police Chief. A.J. Perez.
The full board will take up the matter when it meets on January 22.
