Dear Stafford School Community,

I am reaching out regarding the upcoming budget referendum scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, at Stafford Public Library. This will be Stafford’s second budget referendum vote.

The current Board of Education budget increase is $1,148,113, representing a 3.7% increase over the current budget. This increase is not driven by expanding staffing or adding new programs. Of that increase, $959,830 is directly attributed to rising health insurance costs and $355,660 is related to transportation expenses, even after reducing two bus routes to help control costs. We continue to focus on efficiency, restructuring where possible, and maximizing every taxpayer dollar while ensuring students receive the educational experiences, opportunities, and supports they need to succeed.

I am not asking for your vote one way or another. I am asking you to participate. An informed and engaged community is essential to strong schools and a strong town. Your voice and involvement matter as we continue working together to support the students and families of Stafford.

Stafford Public Schools has always been a district grounded in fiscal responsibility and maximizing every dollar entrusted to us. Over many years of receiving fewer resources, we have consistently been challenged to reduce spending while maintaining the programs, opportunities, and supports our students deserve.

While enrollment has declined over the past decade, it is inaccurate to suggest staffing has remained unchanged. In fact, we have reduced our full-time employee footprint by more than 50 positions over time. This year, however, we are seeing enrollment growth.

Despite fiscal challenges, Stafford Public Schools continues to provide:

• Early childhood education opportunities for working families
• Transition services for young adults through age 22
• Classroom sizes that average approximately 20–22 students
• Advanced Placement and dual-credit opportunities
• New and expanded career pathways at Stafford High School
• STEM programming and learning experiences
• Middle school and high school athletics
• Clubs, enrichment opportunities, and extracurricular activities
• Highly discounted after-school care programming and newly introduced before-school care for working families

We provide these opportunities while continuously restructuring, reprioritizing, and improving efficiency. The budget proposed this year does not add new positions. Instead, we are working to do more with what we have while remaining responsible stewards of taxpayer resources and responding to what students and families tell us they need.

This budget year is unique. It follows a year in which the Board of Education was required to reduce more than $1.8 million from the school budget while also beginning this budget cycle amid state-mandated property revaluations.

Recognizing these challenges early, we began the budget process in December 2025. Throughout the process, the Board of Education reduced the proposed budget by more than $650,000. Following the first referendum result, an additional $227,215 was reduced, bringing total reductions to $877,812.

We have reached a point where continued reductions begin impacting programming, class sizes, and student opportunities.

The proposed budget increase is not driven by expanding staffing or adding programs. It is primarily the result of rapidly increasing health insurance and transportation costs. We continue to focus on efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring students receive the educational experiences they need to succeed.

I am not asking for your vote one way or another. I am asking you to participate. An informed and engaged community is essential to our schools and our town.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Stafford Public Schools.

Sincerely,

Scott Sugarman
Superintendent of Schools
Stafford Public Schools