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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Evidence of alleged crimes with Bridgeport’s School Budget going to State Auditors and Attorney General - Wait, What?

Evidence of alleged crimes with Bridgeport’s School Budget going to State Auditors and Attorney General - Wait, What?:


Evidence of alleged crimes with Bridgeport’s School Budget going to State Auditors and Attorney General



Readers of Wait, What? are well aware that over the past year this blog’s investigative work has turned up evidence of what appear to be serious violations of law by Bridgeport Superintendent of Schools Paul Vallas, the Bridgeport Board of Education and the City of Bridgeport.
In direct violation of Connecticut and Bridgeport laws, Paul Vallas signed more than a dozen no-bid contracts, many of them going to individuals who worked for his private consulting company or to companies that he has worked with in the past.  The cost of these contracts obligated the taxpayers of Bridgeport and Connecticut to more than $12 million in expenditures.
In at least one case, a no-bid hundred thousand dollar contract with a company Vallas has a close relationship was signed and payments made to utilize vital special education software starting July 1, 2012.  That software remains unused and Bridgeport teachers continue to use the old software the city was using.  Despite this fact, Vallas’ office responded to a recent Freedom of Information request by saying that no contract