Where Did $4 Million Go?

What happened to the $4 million endowment for the Enfield Public School Talented and Gifted Program (TAG)? Well, that answer will cost you $69/hour and 1-3 hours just to produce data that already exists in the district’s financial system. The school district attorney stated:

“The district is permitted to charge for staff time required to retrieve, review, and prepare records where applicable.”

The Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission says otherwise. According to Russell Blair, Director of Education and Communications,

“Public agencies cannot charge an hourly rate for staff time to work on a request.”

As a parent of a 5th-grade student at Parkman, who is identified as gifted and talented, I am speaking up and asking questions. My requests are simple: I’m asking for visibility into the program, a clear understanding of how TAG funds are being used, and assurance that the donor’s wishes are being honored.​

The Simcovitz Endowment

In 2012, the district received a $2 million endowment from Abraham Simcovitz, which has grown to nearly $4 million. The 2025-2026 Enfield Public School Budget listed $100,000 from the Simcovitz Endowment under private grants.

“Enfield Public Schools is honored to be a recipient of the Estate of Abraham Simcovitz funding to be used exclusively for the creation, development, and maintenance of the Gifted and Talented (TAG) program at JFK Middle School. The endowment supports 1 FTE and program activities and supplies for various student events and competitions. This endowment will support the TAG program annually for many years.”

Sizable endowment, little to show...

So where is the program? Despite the $4 million devoted to the TAG program, there’s little evidence of a visible and developed program.

I requested receipts, invoices, the general ledger, and the fund code—but received a bill instead. Those records are currently under appeal through the Freedom of Information process.

Board of Education discussions on TAG are difficult to locate after 2014.
State data indicate no students were identified or served.
The district website contains outdated information.
Curriculum and family resources are not available.

Not every district has a TAG program, and that’s what makes Enfield unique. This is why it’s confusing that the program isn’t promoted, and why the community can’t see how it’s working.

Budget Transparency Matters

Even board members are unclear about how TAG funds are tracked. During the February 10, 2026, Board of Education Meeting, Republican Minority Leader Phil Kober requested a deeper understanding of the TAG expenditures.

“For drawing down on the TAG account, I believe in that slide, it would be under the anticipated revenue column; I just don’t see those explicitly stated.”

Superintendent Steven Moccio responded,

“Yeah, they were not shown anywhere there. They’re considered offsets within the object breakdown sheets. So that TAG account, for example, that teacher that is paid for out of the TAG account, that teacher’s salary is not even included in your Board of Education budget.”

In other words, the TAG funds are tracked internally—but not in a way the public can actually see or verify.

Kober also asked about the areas of responsibility for the board and town, and the chair clarified that leadership is still discussing who is responsible for what.

So where is the oversight? Where is the accountability?

Right now, Enfield is still trying to figure that out.

I reached out to the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) regarding the Connecticut Education Financial System (EFS), a mandatory financial data reporting system used by districts, like Enfield. According to Nghi Trieu, Education Consultant at CSDE,

“Endowment funds are entered in the private funding schedule, using the funding source 4 (private funds).”

According to the EFS handbook, endowments should not be excluded from public expenditures for pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade education. Since endowments are restricted funds, they should not be placed in student activity accounts or any type of account with general funds. Endowment funds are required to be reported as part of public education spending. So why is this TAG money so difficult for the public to see?​

The TAG program exists on paper—but it’s difficult to see in practice.

Parents argue that the TAG program should align with the donor’s intent and provide meaningful education opportunities to every student, since every student is unique. Without eyes on this program, questions remain: “Is it underdeveloped and accessible to all exceptional learners?”

It’s not just about the money. It’s about ensuring gifted and talented students have the resources and opportunities they deserve — and making sure the program actually works.

Transparency and accountability are not optional.

If this $4 million endowment is meant to support students, the community deserves to see how—and whether—that is actually happening.