By Ashleigh Costello
EAGnews.org

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that would have replaced the city’s elected school board with one appointed by the mayor.

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The proposal was defeated by 11,121 to 9,231, according to the ctpost.com.

Meanwhile, several other large school districts around the nation had so-so luck convincing voters to approve property tax increases for various purposes.

In Bridgeport, critics saw the effort as a political power grab by Mayor Bill Finch and argued the measure would be a disservice to voters.  But others saw the proposal as a way to have higher quality board members appointed by the mayor, who would be held accountable by voters.

The city had an appointed board for a brief period of time in 2011 after Finch and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy orchestrated a state takeover.  The takeover was eventually overturned by the state Supreme Court, but not before the appointed board was able to eliminate a budget deficit and appoint a new superintendent.

Lindsay Farrell, executive director of the Connecticut Working Family Party, was pleased with the outcome.

“We thought it was important to stand up against big money and special interests,” said Farrell.  “This ballot measure was undemocratic and misleading.  Disenfranchising voters wouldn’t have improved Bridgeport’s schools.  I’m proud we defeated it in the face of such opposition.”

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Mayor Bill Finch expressed disappointment but said he will continue to work to improve Bridgeport schools, which have the unfortunate distinction of being the worst in Connecticut.

“Our residents have spoken and I respect their decision,” said Finch in a statement.  “While I believe that the New York, Boston and Providence model would have ensured greater progress for our schools and better results for our students, I will devote an equal amount of energy to improving our schools, accepting that the current model of government means that I have no legal authority to direct our school system.”

If the proposal had passed, the nine-member elected board would have been replaced, over four years, with a mayoral appointed board, reports the news site.

Meanwhile, several large school districts across the nation asked taxpayers to approve bond measures and increase property taxes to provide additional funding.

In Denver, voters approved a bond issue and property tax measure that will bring a record $515 million into district coffers for repairs to facilities and extra operation revenue.  In San Diego, six out of a total of eleven bond measures passed.  Prop Z, the largest of the bond measures on the ballot, easily won approval from voters, raising $2.8 billion to fund renovations and pay for technology upgrades.

Voters were more apprehensive in Nevada and Florida. In Clark County, Nevada, voters overwhelmingly rejected a property tax increase that school leaders said would have been used to make repairs to more than 40 buildings. In Miami, voters were asked to consider a highly debated $1.2 billion school bond referendum for maintenance and technology needs. It remains unclear if the measure passed.