A good week for grants at Stafford BOE
At the October 13, 2026, Stafford Board of Education meeting the district delivered some good news. Not only did the district receive increases to some of the grants it regularly receives, but it scored a couple of new ones.
Superintendent of Schools Scott Sugarman reported the district received a $15,000 Early Childhood Capital Improvement Grant so recently it didn’t make it on the agenda. The money can be used for projects at West Stafford School, and Sugarman said he had a list of possible ideas. From new sod on the playground to a new heating pump that was already replaced, there are a number of possible projects the grant money could pay for.
Later, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Colleen Bava reported some small and large increases to its Title I, Title III, and Title IV grants. Title III saw a $300 increase, while Title IV got a $3,000 bump. More significantly, Title I saw a $30,000 increase.
According to ed.gov, “Under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the U.S. Department of Education provides supplemental financial assistance to States to ensure students from low-income families receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. The core mission of Title I is to close achievement gaps and promote educational opportunity for all students.”
And finally, Bava noted the district received a $50,000 High-Dosage Tutoring Grant from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Intended for the 2026–2027school year, Stafford is one of just 42 districts statewide selected for this competitive funding.
Bava said the grant provides help for students in grades six and nine during their transition years. Specifically, it will address mathematics. Tutors will be in classes in the sixth grade, while addressing algebra in the high school’s math lab.
