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To the Editor:
Since the current Stamford superintendent of schools took office five years ago, the Board of Education and central office leadership have had to deal with ongoing votes of no confidence — in April 2022 and March 2024 — as well as several community rallies — Mask Choice & No 4×4 H.S. Schedule, 2022; Red Out Against a 6-Period Proposed H.S. Schedule, 2023; Keep Columbus & Veterans Holidays, 2024.
What is the big deal?
Obviously, transparency matters when labor and tax dollars are involved. The families and community, too, need to consider why solidarity votes and rallies are becoming frequent. At the root of this issue, Stamford Board of Education’s decision-making needs to be seriously questioned. To make a long story short, lack of transparency has acted as a buffer for what the Board of Education should be managing better—student achievement, policy compliance, climate survey and hiring practices.
Student Achievement
Achievement scores have not improved over an 11-year period in the SPS
● Only 7 out of 23 schools have shown consistent growth
● SBAC District English Language Arts, grade 3-8, scores of proficient or higher have dropped from 40.6 in 2021-2022 to 37.8 in 2022-2023
●The 2022-2023 Connecticut State Department of Education District Profile & Performance Report/Summative Assessments (out of 100, state target = 75, Gr. 3-8 & 11*). SPS performance levels for ELA = 58.5; Mathematics = 54.4; and Science* = 56.0
●The 2022-2023 Connecticut 11th & 12th graders Demonstrating Post Secondary Readiness (DPSR)—based on SAT, ACT, AP or IB exams = 44.3. SPS performance level = 37.4
There also seems to be mixed messages coming from central office when the number of Stamford Public School students graduating far exceeds the number of students performing at grade level. Why the cover-up?
Policy Compliance
With repeated votes of no confidence and rallies, why are Policy 1100-Communications with the Public and Policy 2001-Participatory Management, always on the forefront of concern?
Policy monitoring —which has not been consistent in the schools —is essential when policies were found to be out of compliance (Day & Pitney lawsuit & BOE Policy Chair analysis, 2022). Surrounding districts do not have these same compliance or labor issues. What central office actions are causing these internal and stakeholder patterns of outcry? Why is the Board of Education downplaying these concerns?
Climate Survey
The annual district climate survey continues to be skewed and morale is low. Recommendations to include questions about central office leadership have been completely and conveniently left off the survey for three years. Building administrators fill out surveys about themselves and employee comments are not shared or summarized for the Board of Education. Why is this allowed?
Hiring Practices
Stamford Public Schools have had five superintendents during President Heftman’s six terms (Joshua Starr/2005, Winifred Hamilton/2011, Interim James Connelly/2016, Earl Kim/2016 & Tamu Lucero/2019). Why have Board of Education hiring practices for superintendents been inconsistent—search committee & candidate pool; or no search committee & only one candidate? The evidence is in the details—the Board of Education defines the superintendent’s contract and annual evaluation. The Board of Education sets these parameters. Knowing this, has the Stamford Board of Education’s lack of transparency created what Stamford Public Schools are dealing with now—ongoing decline in achievement and low district/community morale? It is apparent that employee and community trust has been deeply broken. When teachers are always on pins and needles or turnover is high, success is not guaranteed for all students.
In striving to ‘do it our way’ and refusal to listen to teacher/community voice, has the Board of Education made decisions based purely on politics rather than achievement? Perception is clear…the Board of Education’s autocratic views seem to portray efficiency has priority over instruction for at least 11 years.
The Stamford Public Schools Board of Education should consider doing some group introspection. Transparency matters!