Yearbooks, Caps & Gowns Might Be Free For Stamford Seniors

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Board of Education's Fiscal Committee made several amendments to the proposed 2022-2023 operating budget on Tuesday, which puts the spending plan at $308 million. The current year's budget is $293.5 million.

Four amendments were unanimously approved by the subcommittee.

Subcommittee Chair Daniel Dauplaise proposed $140,000 which would be used to pay for yearbooks and caps and gowns for seniors. Currently, graduating seniors have to pay for that themselves.

"Every year, the Board of Education gets an email and says, 'All the board members get a yearbook, would you like to donate that yearbook?' I really didn't like the sound of that," Dauplaise said. "I've amended the budget and asked for an additional $140,000 so that those costs are now covered, and it's not something our seniors are going to have to worry about anymore."

Board of Education member Joshua Esses, who is not on the Fiscal Committee, disagreed with the amendment.

"I get the sentiment there, Dan, but I'm opposed to this one," Esses said. "I don't think that's something tax dollars should pay for."

Fiscal Committee member Benjamin Lee proposed an amendment that added $350,000 for two full-time employees — a project manager and architect for the facilities department.

Recently, the district was presented with a 10-year master facilities plan that features multiple large projects, including maintenance work on all schools, and the potential construction of a new south Stamford school.

"This is dramatically more work than we've taken on in any other previous year," Lee said, noting the district could spend over $400 million in the next 10 years.

Lee said the extra positions would increase staffing and help lower construction costs.

"Even modest savings in those estimated construction costs can have significant savings for us long term," he said. "One of the leading factors for high cost of construction and infrastructure in the United States generally is essentially a chronic problem of understaffing."

Superintendent of SPS Dr. Tamu Lucero said the current facilities director would oversee day-to-day operations, but specific projects call for an architect and a project manager who can work on projects from beginning to end.

Andy George, a subcommittee member, introduced an amendment that adds $250,000 to the communications budget for the district.

"The intention is that this goes to the public affairs area to improve school communication and promote community awareness of the district's positive attributes and to expand the capabilities that the public affairs department," George said.

Justin Martin, communications director for SPS, said when he was recently hired, he identified areas that needed help. He said a communications specialist, and someone who can help grow social media presence and graphic design for the district's communications department would be needed.

Lee said he wants to see more detailed plans on how the money would be spent, but said he sees how the district could benefit.

The Stamford Public Schools Administration also proposed an increase of $331,000 because the district's health care provider has changed its estimate on how much premium rates will be this year.

The four amendments added a little over $1 million to the budget.

Along with the $308 million operating budget and 2,123.3 full-time positions, the Fiscal Committee approved a grant budget of $58.3 million.

The proposed budget will go to the full Board of Education next.

To view the entire Fiscal Committee's meeting, click here.