“Confidence” or “no confidence?” This was the choice given to a random sampling of over 500 Stamford High School students in regards to their feelings about the prospect of Principal Donna Valentine and Assistant Principal Roth Nordin returning. Valentine and Nordin were arrested in early October for allegedly failing to report a sexual relationship between a student and English teacher Danielle Watkins. The two were granted accelerated rehabilitation by Judge Richard Comerford, and it is now up to Superintendent Winifred Hamilton to decide if they will be allowed to return to the building.

On Thursday, December 4, the teachers (with the support of the Stamford Education Association) planned to participate in a vote of confidence. However, the vote was postponed due to issues that were presented by Valentine’s lawyer, Mark Sherman. Although the ultimate decision regarding Valentine and Nordin’s return will be made by Superintendent Winifred Hamilton, teachers wanted a chance to express their opinions in the hopes that they would be taken into consideration. According to the teachers’ union, the vote will eventually be rescheduled.

With teachers’ voices going unheard, editors at The Round Table decided that a student survey should be taken in order to assess the overall attitude of the student body. Additionally, it was determined that the survey should be taken without knowledge or involvement of any SHS faculty, to shield them from potential legal consequences. This survey was taken during all three lunch waves on Friday, December 5, in which a random sampling of students indicated if they would have “confidence” or “no confidence” in Valentine and Nordin’s ability to lead the school were they to return to the building. Respondents signed a sheet of paper to ensure that no one would vote more than once, and were informed that their identities would not be associated with their votes in any way. Students were also made aware that the survey may have no effect on Hamilton’s decision, but were eager to participate nonetheless.

“The school has moved on, and I think [Valentine] needs to as well.”

Nearly 1/3 of Stamford High’s 1,789 students (and one adamant custodian) participated in the survey. Though it is worth noting that a handful of students were likely either confused by the phrasing of the poll or generally uninformed about the situation, 80% of students (432 out of 541) indicated that they would have “no confidence” in Valentine and a lesser, but still substantial, 61% (315 out of 520) responded that they would have “no confidence” in Nordin. More than 100 students gave different responses for Valentine and Nordin (the majority of whom voted “no confidence” for Valentine and “confidence” for Nordin). That, along with the fact that about 20 people didn’t vote at all for Nordin, factors into the discrepancy.

Senior Nicole Labkoff told The Round Table she responded “no confidence” for both Valentine and Nordin, and said that if she was in a situation similar to the one of the student involved with Watkins, she “would want our faculty to do the best they could to protect [her] well-being.” She further added, “Anyone who cannot do that properly does not belong in our school.” Junior Chris Desir had a different perspective: “Everyone deserves a second chance; [Valentine] hasn’t done that much wrong as principal,” Desir said.

When asked about the interim administration, senior Luz Sanabria said, “Mr. Bass is definitely a lot more present in the school. I didn’t even see Valentine until last year.” Senior Megan Rule added, “The school has moved on, and I think [Valentine] needs to as well.”

Perhaps senior Ashley Lupo best summed  up the overall feelings of the SHS student body when she said, “The opinions of the students truly do matter. We are the ones who are affected the most.”