Stamford labor committee postpones new chief role, approves associate-superintendent job descriptions on committee votes

The Stamford School District Labor Committee met Aug. 13 and postponed consideration of a newly drafted chief family and staff resource officer job description while approving three associate-superintendent job descriptions on committee votes that will be forwarded to the full Board.

Chair Andy opened the meeting and presented Resolution 8 27 24 59 to establish a combined chief family and staff resource officer. District staff member Chris described the role as consolidating the former executive director of human resources duties with family and community engagement functions — including oversight of a planned welcome center in Clunan — and said investigations and compliance work would remain part of the office and that findings would be passed to Dr. Michael Fernandez for discipline decisions. Board members asked for clearer language in several bullets, including a line stating the incumbent “ensures the quality of teachers and principals.” Board member Jackie said that sentence as written implies individual blame and asked staff to reword it to reflect systems and oversight rather than personal fault; staff agreed to revise the language.

After discussion, a committee member moved to postpone Resolution 8 27 24 59 so the suggested edits can be incorporated and circulated. The committee voted in favor by voice, with the chair recording the tally as 4–0–0; the item was postponed to the regular Board meeting for final consideration.

The committee then considered Resolution 8 27 24 60 to adopt an associate superintendent for elementary schools. Board member Dr. Hammond objected strongly to removing data-analysis, program evaluation and other research responsibilities from the associate superintendent role, saying those changes reduce central-office accountability across 13 elementary schools. A district administrator explained that several responsibilities were reassigned to a newly created data/research position (identified in the discussion as Scott Clayton) and that associates retain oversight of data within their departments. Board member Versha read aloud the job description’s school-improvement language and said she interpreted it to require monitoring data and holding principals accountable. After debate, the committee approved the elementary associate superintendent job description on a committee vote of 3–1–0 (Dr. Hammond opposed); the item will not be placed on the consent agenda and will return to the full Board.

Resolution 8 27 24 61, the associate superintendent for middle schools, drew similar questions about continuity, climate and discipline at individual schools. Dr. Hammond urged clearer accountability language and cited prior problems at Turner River as a cautionary example; other members pushed back against broad characterizations and urged fair treatment of school staff. The committee approved the middle-schools job description 3–1–0 (Dr. Hammond opposed); staff will correct a typographical title error before the Board sees the item.

Finally, the committee considered Resolution 8 27 24 62 for an associate superintendent of high schools. A board member queried a clause saying the position “supervises the lottery process.” Staff acknowledged the district recently reassigned lottery oversight and said that responsibility will sit with the district’s data/research staff (Scott Clayton). A board member moved to amend the high-school job description to remove the lottery-supervision language; the committee removed that component (voice vote recorded as 4–0). The committee then approved the amended high-school job description 3–1–0 (Dr. Hammond opposed). As with the other approved descriptions, the high-school item will return to the full Board for final action and will not be placed on the consent agenda.

The meeting concluded with Chair Andy adjourning the Labor Committee at 8:25 p.m. The Board will receive the revised job descriptions and accompanying edits at its regular meeting for final votes.