A long-awaited report on the future of the city school system’s aging facilities recommends the district shutter seven school buildings, construct four new ones and perform major renovations on eight others. Pat Gallagher, a community planner with MP Planning Group, said the yet-to-be-approved proposal to replace several badly rundown schools with brand new ones could help the cash-strapped district save millions of dollars. The recently completed study found the district’s buildings will collectively need up to $702.5 million in repairs and other upgrades within the next 10 years — a figure Gallagher and other consultants have described as “significant.” The recommendations come as the district continues to face a $23 million deficit in the upcoming fiscal year that has prompted the school board in recent weeks to eliminate several programs and dozens of staffers. The panel is now weighing further budget cuts.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/education/article/bridgeport-ct-report-school-closures-renovations-20204198.php