Brenner at board 3-9-16

At Supt Dan Brenner’s Final Board of Education Meeting, Board Says Farewell and He Says Goodbye

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As Schools Superintendent Dan Brenner wraps up the last week of his three-year stint running Darien Public Schools, he attended his last Darien Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, and both he and the board had some gratitude to express. See correction at bottom of article.  

“I’ve been very fortunate to work here for three years,” Brenner said. “I’ve been very fortunate to work with this board that has changed but continues to be tremendously supportive. I also feel compelled to say, I planned on finishing my career in Darien,” he continued.

brenner tv79 3-13-16

Brenner Makes It Official: Resigns as Schools Superintendent

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Schools Superintendent Dan Brenner officially notified the Board of Education on Wednesday that he’ll be resigning to take up a position as head of the United Nations International School in New York City. Brenner said his resignation would take place in 90 days (which is Aug. 28) or at some other “mutually agreed upon date between the board and myself” to be determined later. In his letter, Brenner wrote:
Finally, there has been much speculation, since Tuesday when I announced my intention to resign, as to the motivating factors in my decision. I can assure you that no individual or individuals “chased me out” nor am I leaving because I have been mistreated in anyway or by anyone.

brenner tv79 3-13-16

Schools Superintendent Dan Brenner Announces He May Soon Take Another Job

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Superintendent of Schools Dan Brenner, almost three years after coming to Darien Public Schools, announced at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting that he is negotiating a “once in a lifetime” job offer from a private school. Brenner said he was approached with the opportunity and that he was informing the public and the Board of Education “because of how late it is in the school year and the obvious need to start a process for my replacement.” In his prepared statement, which he read to the board, Brenner didn’t hint at any dissatisfaction with his job in Darien. Instead, he described the job opportunity as too enticing to ignore: “Just recently, I have been approached with a once in a lifetime opportunity to run a private school that is something that I could not overlook.” The superintendent said he didn’t want to identify the name of the school or provide any other specifics “because I am in the final stages of negotiations,” but he expected negotiations to conclude in about a week.

Darien Public Schools

Brenner to School Community: Sorry, I Should Have Delayed School [UPDATE: Vilification on Twitter]

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Darien Schools Superintendent Dan Brenner issued a public apology Monday to Darien parents of school children. He said he should have delayed the start of school. ____________
Update: Nasty Backlash on Twitter
Updated at 4:12 p.m.:

Brenner’s 5:17 a.m. tweet about not delaying the school day was met with harsh complaints from parents, including some insults, and complaints often combined with swearing, insults, scorn and vilification from others, most of whom identified themselves as students. Here’s Brenner’s tweet:

 

Here’s a sampling of the replies to that tweet (we’ve left out the swearing):

Lisa Valentine‏ @lisamillette71 

The heaviest snow is now thru 10a. Bad call.

Darien High School entrance

Superintendent on Darien High Walkout: It Was Orderly, Respectful

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When Darien High School students participated in a walkout on Wednesday to commemorate the Parkland, Fla. school shooting, the event was orderly and people were respectful, school district Superintendent Dan Brenner told the Board of Education that night. “No surprises that March 14 brought the walkout at the high school,” Brenner said at the board’s meeting. “I’m very pleased to report that I think it was an honorable day for our students who walked out, who listened to their student colleagues speak […]”

The students gathered outside during the walkout. He said the walkout lasted for 17 minutes, although a report in Darien News said that the 700 or so students who walked out took a bit longer.