The “fiscal cliff” was created in spring 2020 when, out of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, City boards cut $12.5 million from the Stamford Public Schools FY21 budget. To balance the budget and absorb this reduction, the district planned to eliminate more than 100 positions and reduce spending in other areas.
Fortunately, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds enabled SPS to temporarily retain 120 full-time positions that otherwise would have been eliminated. Roles currently funded through ESSER include parent facilitators, technology integration support specialists, kindergarten paraeducators, crisis social workers, security workers, and more.
ESSER funds run out at the end of FY24. Returning these 120 positions to the operating budget will require an increase of more than $8 million dollars. When combined with projected increases in other categories, it is estimated that the FY25 operating budget will increase 6 to 8 percent.
Currently, the District is working on a master staffing plan to evaluate what each building needs and to reallocate personnel where they are most needed, and we are exploring alternate funding options for the 120 positions and other ESSER funded programs.
The District recognizes that no one wants to pay more in taxes. Unfortunately, costs increase most years, requiring us to increase the budget to simply maintain existing programs and services.