BOE president appreciates finance board’s partnership

Last week, the Board of Finance voted on the Stamford Public Schools (SPS) budget for the 2023-2024 school year. I want to recognize the members of the Board of Finance, led by Board Chair Richard Freedman, for their partnership through the budget process and ongoing commitment to our city’s public schools.

The annual school budget development process is rigorous, comprehensive and directly aligned with the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. As a large, urban school district with two-thirds of its students identified as being high needs, we face an evolving and unique set of opportunities and challenges. Superintendent Tamu Lucero and her leadership team continually rise to the occasion, which includes developing the annual budget guided by our district’s mission, publicly stated goals, and data on both the needs of our varied school body and the evidenced based practices and strategies best suited to meet these needs.

The 2023-2024 district budget accounts for anticipated increases in health care, transportation, and special education costs without adding new programs or services. It maintains current levels of programs and staffing and continues the work to implement the curriculum audit recommendations. It is fiscally responsible, supportive of our students and staff, and allows us to operate and maintain our school facilities.

I want to thank the Board of Finance for recognizing this and limiting its reduction of the 2023-2024 budget to $1.25 million. While any cut will require a careful reexamination of the budget to minimize the impact in the classroom, the superintendent and the Board of Education will work diligently to find ways to absorb this reduction without negatively affecting the learning experience of our students.

After being scrutinized by both the Board of Education and now Board of Finance, the budget now advances to the Board of Representatives for its consideration. It is our hope that the Board of Representatives will support the budget as presented. Any additional reductions to the school budget above the $1.25 million already cut by the Board of Finance will force tough decisions, including fewer programs for our high needs students and reduced opportunities to advance our curriculum work. With a fiscal cliff looming in 2024-2025 as federal COVID funding goes away, and an apparent refusal by the state to speed up fully funding our ECS allocation, 100-plus positions are in jeopardy of being cut. Further cuts to next year’s budget will only exacerbate the problem.

We have a lot to be proud of in our schools. Under Dr. Lucero’s leadership we are seeing improvements in achievement, greater operational efficiencies, and stronger partnerships with community organizations that enrich and extend our student’s learning beyond the classroom. We are headed in the right direction. The budget, as approved by the Board of Finance, will continue this exciting work into the coming year.