Weekly Message from the Superintendent

Dear SPS Community: 

On Monday, Mayor Simmons and I joined with the other mayors and superintendents from Connecticut’s five largest cities to call on Governor Lamont and state lawmakers to increase state education funding, especially for high needs students. 

The state’s five largest school districts educate 20% of all Connecticut students, but 83% of all high needs students, which includes those who qualify for free and reduced priced lunch as well as multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Increasing state funding for high needs students would lessen the burden on local taxpayers, particularly in Stamford, where local revenue funds a larger share of the school budget than in Connecticut’s other large cities. 

We will share more next Tuesday at 6:30 pm when Chief Financial Officer Ryan Fealey and I present the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget to the Board of Education Fiscal Committee. As always, the committee meetings may be viewed live via Zoom (Webinar ID: 884 4876 5701). 

Join us for the Yale Collegiate Debate Exhibition Next Wednesday 

We hope you will join us next Wednesday at 7 pm for an evening of collegiate debate featuring women from the Yale Debate Association (YDA). This event is sponsored by the AITE Debate Team. 

The YDA will debate the following question: Should American women prioritize electing female candidates over supporting candidates who are responsive to women's issues?

In addition to the YDA debate exhibition, guest speakers on Wednesday night will include Mayor Caroline Simmons and State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox.  

This FREE event will take place at the Rippowam Auditorium and is open to the public.  

MLK Day of Service is Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm at UCONN Stamford

Please join us tomorrow from 10 am to 2 pm at UCONN Stamford for the MLK Day of Service. Activities will include writing letters to U.S. troops, creating Valentine’s Day cards for senior citizens, a children’s book drive, and more. Please see the flyer (English / Spanish) for more information.  

Mobile Food Pantry at Domus on Saturday 

The Filling in the Blanks Mobile Food Pantry will be at Domus tomorrow morning. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service, please plan to attend between 8:30 and 10:30 am. 

Community Partners Host Budget Information Sessions

Our community partners are offering opportunities for parents and the larger community to learn more about the SPS budgeting process and how to make their voices heard.  

Understanding the SPS Budget (Thursday, January 23, 6:30 pm, Boys & Girls Club): Join Stamford Cradle to Career and representatives from the Stamford Boards of Education, Finance, and Representatives to learn: 

• How SPS develops, proposes, and finalizes its budgets
• Key terms and concepts to help you navigate budget documents and discussions
• Where funding comes from and how it’s allocated
• How spending priorities are set and challenges addressed
• Ways to effectively advocate and participate in the budgeting process

SPS Dollars and Decisions (Monday, January 27, 7 pm, Cloonan Middle School and via Zoom): Join me as I share the FY26 proposed budget and answer your questions. This event is hosted by Stamford Public Education Foundation, Stamford Cradle to Career, and the Boys and Girls Club. The event will be offered with Spanish interpretation. Register to attend in person or to receive the Zoom link.  

High School Students Recognized for Outstanding Artwork

I am excited to share that students from Stamford High and Westhill have been recognized by the Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards program for their outstanding artwork. This annual program is juried by professional artists and university art faculty and recognizes the best student artwork in the state.  

Please join me in congratulating the following students and their teachers:    

Stamford High: 

Silver Key Award: 

Rylie Haynes (Grade 10), Film and Animation.  

Abigail Loayza (Grade 12), Painting. Teacher: Timothy Eaton-Koch

Honorable Mention: 

Abigail Loayza (Grade 12), Painting. Teacher: Kimberly DeBiase-Wheeler

Westhill: 

Silver Key Award: 

Adilene Pulido (Grade 12), Jewelry.  Teacher: Kenneth Martin

Honorable Mention: 

Melissa Berganza (Grade 11), Mixed Media. Teacher: Robin Konrad

Keyli Carrillo (Grade 12), Jewelry. Teacher: Kenneth Martin

I’d also like to recognize and thank Robin Konrad, Westhill Department Head for Visual and Performing Arts, and Module Downer, Fine Arts Department Chair at Stamford High, for their work in creating high-quality visual arts education programs for our students.  

Stay Safe & Healthy!

Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent

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