BRIDGEPORT — Mounting tensions between new Superintendent Carmela Levy-David and some members of the Bridgeport Board of Education boiled over during a contentious meeting Tuesday, prompting the school chief to dare the panel hold a vote to have her fired.
The dispute began when board member Joseph Sokolovic questioned Levy-David about her decision to hire employees and award certain contracts, suggesting the district’s top administrator was at risk of straying from long standing procedures.
“My concern is always process,” Sokolovic told Levy-David. “We cannot bypass process. We must adhere to process at all times. Rules and regulations, bylaws and purchasing ordinances are not suggestions.”
Levy-David flatly denied breaking any rules. She accused Sokolovic of attempting to undermine her by creating the “appearance of impropriety” and likened his behavior to subjecting her to the torture method known as death by a thousand cuts and challenged him to call a vote to have her terminated.
The forceful response came after Sokolovic raised concerns that district officials were not working fast enough to identify long-term replacements for newly named Interim Deputy Superintendent Royce Avery and a public relations consultant who was recently hired on a temporary basis.
“It doesn’t matter who is in that position,” Levy-David said. “If it’s someone that I have recommended and brought in, there’s going to be a question about that person, about my process, about what I’m doing. I could present the most amazing person to this board and there will still be some type of objection.”
Sokolovic, a Republican-turned-Democrat who has described himself as a fiscal conservative passionate about social issues, has repeatedly clashed with Levy-David since she took over the district’s top administrative position in August. He was among the members who most vocally questioned her decision to spend $24,000 on a convocation ceremony at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater.
Sokolovic, whose questions were echoed by member Robert Traber, is no stranger to controversy himself. He was stripped of his committee assignments last year after engaging in an argument with the then-chairperson and was arrested last month while protesting a campaign fundraiser for Mayor Joe Ganim. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The showdowns have made for a rocky start to Levy-David’s tenure in the Park City and could threaten the board’s ability to help her tackle the long list of challenges facing the cash-strapped school system, including an ongoing teacher shortage and looming budgetary concerns.
In addition to questioning various contracts, Sokolovic expressed opposition to a plan by the superintendent to no longer mandate diversity, equity and inclusion training for district staffers. Levy-David has said she plans to do away with the annual requirement in favor of training for culturally responsive teaching.
The alternative approach, Levy-David said, is aimed at ensuring students are being taught what makes people different and that teachers have the tools to support students within their own cultural framework. She noted that DEI programs across the country have recently receded and cited research suggesting the training is not always effective.
“I don’t want to put them in a training that makes them feel like their expertise and racial relations is being called into question,” Levy-David said. “Our goal is to help educate people on our cultural differences, why they matter, why they’re important and how we can help to support our students to learn.”
Sokolovic, however, argued that the DEI trainings are essential for a majority-minority school system that employs mostly white teachers. According to district data, Black and Hispanic or Latino students make up almost 90 percent of the student body while nearly 70 percent of teachers are white.
“DEI may be dead in Texas but we live in Connecticut where DEI is alive and well,” Sokolovic said. “We want our teachers taught, especially since many of them are from out of the district and have little-to-no understanding. We’re not telling them they’re racist, we’re just telling them they may have some blind spots that they need to look at.”
Sokolovic unsuccessfully urged the board to award a contract to one of two DEI consultants who had applied for a contract over the summer. Instead, the board opted to study the matter further during a future committee meeting.
Despite the rift, Levy-David received vocal support from multiple members during Tuesday’s meeting. Members Akisha Cassermere and David Gellin both praised the superintendent for working to find new ways to support students and build morale among staffers, including taking steps to partner with local companies to create scholarships and holding an event to honor principals.
Those comments were echoed by Vice Chair Christine Baptiste-Perez who said Levy-David’s first 10 weeks with the district has given her immense hope for the future of the school system. She reminded her colleagues they have a responsibility to help her succeed.
“I am somewhat disappointed at the attacks because we truly have something special here,” Baptiste-Perez said.
2023-10-11 20:45:47
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