Narrator: The City of Bridgeport is planning to build Connecticut’s most expensive new school ever. A difficult location and eco-friendly design contribute to the school’s high cost. Trumbull Planning and Zoning Commission, Special Meeting, November 9, 2010 Chris Ferraro, landscape architect: A lot of these options would have probably been a lot easier to build, [...]

A taxpayer lawsuit challenging Connecticut’s scheme for funding Economic Recovery Revenue Bonds could delay the sale of that debt until the lawsuit is resolved, according to an exchange of letters between Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Treasurer Denise Nappier. The bonds will be sold to fund the state’s deficit. The state anticipated selling as much [...]

In a move that puts loyalty first, Governor-Elect Dan Malloy named former Stamford cabinet member Ben Barnes as head of the Office of Policy and Management. “I’ve known Ben for years and I know he’s exactly the kind of person I need in my administration, to help get Connecticut’s fiscal house in order,” said Malloy. [...]

(This is a revised version of an article that originally appeared on Oct. 5.) Democratic Governor-elect Dan Malloy said in an Aug. 30 interview that he wants the state to change over to GAAP accounting the day his administration begins. “The state government requires that of every municipality and board of education,” Malloy said, but [...]

  A program that supports new advanced placement courses with outside funding has met with repeated opposition by teachers unions who object to bonuses paid to teachers for getting students to pass. Project Opening Doors, a nonprofit affiliated with EASTCONN, supports AP programs in 23 schools across 19 districts with funding and training. POD replicates [...]

July 30, 2010 Project Opening Doors was founded in 2007 with a $13.2 million grant from the National Math + Science Initiative. POD  includes financial  incentives for  teachers and students to encourage participation in Advanced Placement testing. Dramatis Personae: Dr. John Yrchik – Executive Director of Connecticut Education Association Thomas Mooney – Attorney Dr. John [...]

The 2009 municipal election in rural Sharon was marred by two instances of unseemly activity and now party leaders there are sounding the alarm that similar shenanigans could happen elsewhere in the state. David Helming, chairman of the Sharon Republican Town Committee, filed a two-part complaint with the State Election Enforcement Commission in 2009. Now [...]