Stamford Students To Report To School On Veteran's Day

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I am pleased to report that all of the school-based employee unions (including our administrators, teachers, paraeducators, school nurses, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers, security staff, and bus drivers) have agreed to work on Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 12th rather than take the day as a holiday as previously scheduled.  

This will allow Stamford Public Schools to be open for students and staff as a regular school day.  This came about because of the recent loss of six school days due to Hurricane Sandy.  Between October 29th and November 8th, students in Stamford Public Schools have attended class only two days.  This extraordinary situation has forced us to look at any day that we can gain back for instructional time.  Darien and Greenwich have also opted to hold school on November 12th.

I have great respect for our veterans in Stamford. I have reached out to several of our leaders in the veterans community to assure them that every school will organize some recognition and appreciation for those who have served our country so well and sacrificed so much.  I know this is an emotional issue, which has made this decision a difficult one. However, my responsibility to the students of Stamford obligate me to take the recent loss of instruction very seriously and recapture valuable time in the classroom.

All of our unions have agreed to take a comp day in lieu of November 12th, at no additional cost to taxpayers.  This is a true example of the professionalism of all Stamford Public School employees and they have my gratitude.

-          Dr. Winnie Hamilton