Students urge Stratford Board to restore 21st Century after‑school funding after federal grant loss

Students and families asked the Stratford Board of Education to consider local funding this year for the district's 21st Century after‑school program after the federal competitive grant that previously funded high‑school programming did not award funding to the high school for the 2024–25 academic year.

Three Stratford High students spoke during the meeting's public comment period. Naocea Roden, an 11th grader, told the board, "we unfortunately got the news that the federal government who was supposed to give us the funding didn't give us this year. And it was a really disappointment." Alyssa Hall, a Stratford High senior, said the program "has been very fun and beneficial to me and the community" and described tutoring, volunteer work for the Baldwin Center and Sterling House, and an annual senior citizens prom the program helped run. Senior Xavier Nacheta said the program "gave me this other atmosphere where I could continue to do my work, but I could also start to really connect with the other students," and asked the board to restore funding.

Acting Superintendent Borges responded during the meeting that the federal award is a competitive grant. Borges said the district partnered with the town to apply, and "there were 64 applicants for only 33 spots," adding that most awards this cycle went to elementary schools; "we did get 20 first century approved for our middle schools, but our high school application did not meet the qualifications for them to fund it," Borges said. Borges also described the program as expensive and said the district would provide cost figures to the board; staff said the program cost "around $200,000 last year" for the district's high‑school level programming.

Board member Kennedy thanked the student speakers and said the board would discuss options: "we will be looking at any options or possibilities or things we might be able to do. No promises, but it will be part of our discussion," he said, noting the district's tight budget projections.

What was discussed and what happens next - The students' asks were for the board to consider restoring funding locally for Stratford High's 21st Century after‑school activities, which include tutoring, social programming and community volunteering. - Staff described the federal program as competitive, said the district's middle schools did receive awards this cycle while the high‑school application did not, and offered to send detailed cost figures to the board. - The board did not adopt a funding motion at the meeting; Kennedy said the board would discuss the matter further with no commitment to a funding source.

Key numbers and clarifications - Competitive grant competition: staff said there were 64 applicants for 33 awards for this grant cycle. - Program cost: staff said the high‑school level programming cost "around $200,000" last year (approximate figure provided in meeting remarks). - Participation: an exact, current count of Stratford High student participants was not provided during the meeting and is listed as not specified; staff said participation was "quite a few students."

Why this matters The 21st Century program provides after‑school tutoring, enrichment and community service opportunities that speakers said support student academic performance, social connection and community engagement. Restoring funding would require reallocating local resources or finding alternative grants; district staff flagged the program's cost as a significant budgetary consideration.

The board said it will review options and cost data before any vote or pledge of local funds.