Former Philadelphia Schools Chief Vallas Forced Out of Connecticut Post
By Mike DeNardo
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBS) -- A judge in Connecticut says former Philadelphia schools chief Paul Vallas has to immediately step down as superintendent in Bridgeport, Conn., amid a legal battle over his qualifications.
A Connecticut Superior Court judge has ruled that Vallas must immediately vacate his job as Bridgeport superintendent.
But Vallas isn't going anywhere just yet. The city asked the state Supreme Court for an expedited review, giving Vallas another ten days in office.
Judge Barbara Bellis last month ruled that Vallas, who served as superintendent of Philadelphia schools from 2002 to 2007, failed to finish a program designed to allow him to fulfill state requirements so he can be superintendent.
Jennifer Alexander, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now, calls the ruling a setback for Bridgeport.
"We're holding out hope," she told KYW Newsradio today. "We don't know the timing of the appeal. We hope things can move quickly through the process. And we hope that he will he able to remain in place and work on behalf of Bridgeport kids."
The Bridgeport school board holds a special meeting on Monday to talk about whether to hire an interim superintendent.
