The Connecticut Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision that ruled Bridgeport Schools Superintendent Paul Vallas was unqualified for his job. Vallas was hired to reform the school system roughly two years ago and has since faced heated opposition as he implemented several changes.
Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis ruled Vallas was unfit for the position in July after an education activist filed suit against Vallas as he doesn’t hold an education degree, as required by state statute to serve as a superintendent.
However, in a unanimous decision Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled Bellis should not have second guessed the decision, made by the state  Board of Education and Commissioner Stefan Pryor, to hire Vallas who has reformed several large school districts including Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans.
The ruling comes just days after Vallas announced his resignation from the post to run as lieutenant governor of Illinois, alongside  Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat. Vallas worked extensively with Quinn when he served as CEO of Chicago schools from 1995 to 2001.
Since hired in Bridgeport, Vallas has been credited for closing the district”™s $12 million budget deficit, increasing school funding, creating plans to open five new schools and purchasing laptops and new textbooks. Meanwhile his critics have accused him of being too business minded and reliant on testing to improve performance.
Vallas said he does not plan to leave his position immediately and will help the newly elected board of directors search for his replacement.
“Departing the Bridgeport Public Schools is not an easy decision, but I am completely aware that the new board, elected just this week by Bridgeport voters to guide the system in coming years, has a desire to work with a superintendent of its own choosing,” Vallas said in a statement announcing his resignation. “Having the ability to make that choice will unify the board and give it greater investment in the new superintendent’s success.”
