Schools reinstate 12 security workers

Lucero: Positions needed as city’s high schools fully reopen

STAMFORD — Last year, when Stamford schools were facing a massive budget cut, 12 security workers were part of 136 positions initially slashed.

This week, those 12 positions were reinstated.

The Board of Education approved the move unanimously with an eye on the reopening of high schools to full-time in-person learning next week.

Sharon Beadle, spokesperson for the district, said the specifics of where the security workers would be stationed are still being

worked out, but that the three high schools would be the priority.

The 12 positions originally cut were spread out across all of the middle and high schools in the district.

The estimated cost for the reinstated jobs, through June 30, is $117,600, and will be paid for with funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, through the COVID-19 relief CARES Act.

On Tuesday, Superintendent Tamu Lucero thanked the board for supporting the measure.

“This is really going to mean a lot to our staff that this was passed unanimously,” she said. “I think it’s going to be very helpful for our students also, and to our families, as we return.”

She said adding security was one of the topics that emerged when discussing a return to more in-person learning.

“One of the things that had come up is coverage as we move students into different areas for lunch, moving them down the hallway, just really trying to keep as much social distancing as possible,” she said.

Lucero recommended keeping the 12 positions in the budget into the following school year.

“We don’t know what COVID is going to look like going into next year,” she said.

The plan is to invite the former security workers back, Lucero said, but they may not all be available. As a backup plan, Lucero said she already had an informal conversation with the company that provides security for Norwalk schools and could supply workers for Stamford if need be.

“We’re going to hopefully get back as many as we can, but they may not all be available,” Lucero said.

Board member Jackie Heftman thanked Lucero for adding the extra security.

“I know that I had raised it and I’m sure that it was a concern of many other board members that we have better coverage in the schools, especially during passing time,” she said.