Principal Asaro was informed on Friday morning that our playground will be closed until further notice. Our city officials need to hear from the Stillmeadow Community that this is unacceptable. Families are urged to attend the Board of Education Operations Committee Meeting on Tuesday, November 19 at 6:30 pm at the Government Center (5th Floor Board Room). The Stillmeadow playground will be discussed at this meeting.
Email the PFO if you can attend this meeting or if you have any questions.
Continue reading below for a summary of this issue.
Background:
The condition of the Stillmeadow playground has declined over time. As a community playground, the City of Stamford is responsible for upkeep and maintenance. Thanks to Principal Asaro and Stillmeadow parent Marlene Wilden, the poor condition of our playground was brought to the attention of the City of Stamford and the Board of Education (BOE) last spring. A subsequent inspection of the Stillmeadow playground is detailed in a 72-page report (part 1 / part 2) dated May 8, 2019.
Stillmeadow families were informed at the beginning of the 2019-20 school year that replacement parts and equipment had been ordered and that repairs would begin this fall. Repairs finally commenced the week of November 11.
What Happened This Week:
On Thursday night, the Stamford Board of Finance voted down a bid waiver that provided funding for the City to continue playground repairs at Stillmeadow and other elementary schools. Due to nature of the repair work underway at Stillmeadow, Principal Asaro was informed on Friday morning that the entire playground would be closed until further notice.
Why This Matters:
Repairs that would have been finished in a matter of days will be delayed indefinitely. Installation of the playground’s new rubber surface must be completed in moderate temperatures. If cold weather sets in before the Board of Finance releases additional funding, the playground could be closed for months.
What You Can Do:
Attend the BOE Operations Committee Meeting on November 19 at 6:30 pm at the Government Center. The playground is on the agenda. Parents do not need to speak at this meeting, but the more parents who attend wearing Stillmeadow gear, the better.
Contact the Board of Finance and ask them to approve the bid waiver so this work can be completed. Here is a sample letter you can modify and send. Board of Finance members are:
| Board of Finance | |
|
Richard Freedman (D) |
Chairman (D) |
|
Mary Lou T. Rinaldi (D) |
Vice Chair (D) |
| Salvatore Gabriele (R) | Member (R) |
|
Dudley Williams (D) |
Member (D) |
| Kieran M. Ryan (R) | Member (R) |
| David Kooris | Member (D) |