Education
Tara Ochman Board of Education Chairperson chair chairman chairwoman 11-14-17

Tara Ochman Elected New Board of Education Chair

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At the first Darien Board of Education meeting since the November election, board member Tara Ochman was elected chairperson, Elizabeth Hagerty-Ross was re-elected vice chairperson and Kathrine Stein, secretary. Unlike several previous years, none of the votes were unanimous. With all nine board members present, Ochman was elected with six votes. Board member Christa McNamara voted no. Board members Jill McCammon and Dennis Maroney abstained.

Education
Burke Maroney Ritchie LWV forum 10-26-17

New School Initiatives, Board of Education’s Role Discussed at Candidates Forum

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Later school starting times, the new Fitch Academy, technology in the schools and how the Board of Education communicates were some of the topics discussed by candidates for the school board at a recent election forum. Democrat Michael Burke and Republican Debra Ritchie, both incumbents, and Dennis Maroney spoke last week at a Darien League of Women Voters election forum. Although there aren’t more seats up for election than there are candidates (so the three Republicans and one Democrat are all expected to be elected), the event gave some insight on what three of the nine school board members are thinking about Darien education topics. Republican David Dineen, also a Board of Education member, was on a business trip and sent his regrets about not being able to make the event, a league official told the audience. Although all three candidates said the effect of possible loss of state aid on the education budget was the most important issue facing the board, but none of them offered specific ways to cut the budget or otherwise deal with the potential cut in funding.

Education
Joslyn DeLancey Darien Education Association Teachers Union 02-16-17

Full Statement: Teachers Union President States Objections to Plan for Department Chairs

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Joslyn DeLancey, an elementary school teacher and president of the Darien Education Association, spoke to the Board of Educaton on Jan. 10, giving the teacher union’s reaction to Superintendent of Schools Dan Brenner’s proposal for six new academic department chairs for the high school and middle school. (Since then, a second department chair for special education has been added to the proposal, bringing the total to seven.)

Here is DeLancey’s full statement to the board, which was included in the Feb. 14 packet to board members, along with the minutes of that meeting (a video including her comments is beneath the statement):

Hello, my name is Joslyn DeLancey. I am the president of the Darien Education Association, and am here to speak on behalf of the teachers of Darien regarding Dr. Brenner’s proposal to shift the middle school and high school department chairs and coordinators to administrative positions.

Opinion
daylight savings clock

The Board of Education Needs to Set an Example

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On Tuesday night — or, rather, past midnight on Wednesday morning — the Board of Education did the same thing it’s previously done at budget season: Conduct a rushed, exhausting marathon of a meeting that sets a lousy example for students and adults by demonstrating a lack of planning. It’s also a poor way to conduct business that many town residents want to be able to monitor. 

The board members and senior district administrators shouldn’t be patting themselves on the back this morning for sacrificing their night in order to get the budget passed before February break. Sure, they need to give the Board of Finance time to review the budget. But everybody’s got deadlines. This is supposed to be a deliberative process, and midnight isn’t the time to deliberate.

Education
Ann Dickson Darien High School parents 02-06-17

Budget Statements on High School, Middle School at the Board of Ed Public Hearing: PART 2

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Here are three statements from Thursday’s Darien Board of Education public hearing on the 2017-2018 proposed school district budget, from parent teacher organizations at Darien High School and Middlesex Middle School. Darien High School (First Statement)
These are excerpts from a statement as read by Peter Orphanos (Darienite.com did not receive his full statement from the Council of Darien School Parents):

[…] We wish to support Principal Dunn and her team at Darien High School for their work enhancing and enriching the learning experience within the framework of a responsible and well-planned budget. Program growth in areas such as technology and guidance counselors affirm Darien High School as a flagship high school […]

A cafeteria is more than a place to eat, it is where our students gather with peers, and it creates an important sense of community. Principal Dunn has spoken of having the cafeteria evolve into more of a student center — a central gathering place for academic collaboration and social community. Darien High School students need this.

Education
Sarah Goertel elementary education budget 02-06-17

Elementary School PTO Statements on the Budget at the Board of Ed Public Hearing: PART 3

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These are two of the statements from elementary school parent teacher organizations about the proposed education budget to the Board of Education at Thursday’s public hearing on the budget. First Statement: Curriculum

Good Evening.  My name is Sara Goertel.  I have 3 of my 4 children at Tokeneke school.  I’m going to speak this evening about initiatives important to the parents of elementary school students.

Education
SEPAC parents 02-06-17

Special Education Parents Statements at the Public Hearing on the Schools Budget: PART 4

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The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee addressed the Board of Education with two statements on Thursday, at the board’s pubic hearing on the 2017-2018 education budget:
FIRST STATEMENT
Good evening we are Courtney Darby and Tricia Bresnahan, co-chairs of the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, SEPAC, and Kelly Dupont, Linda Straubel and Wendy Hopper, SEPAC representatives. We would like to thank Shirley Klein, Scott McCarthy and Dr. Brenner and other school administrators for working collaboratively with our committee to hear the concerns of all Darien parents – and to help all students learn effectively. We would also like to thank the many educators and administrators who work tirelessly and effectively to help our students achieve their potential. We are relaying the concerns and input we have received from many parents in the district. Composite Students
In order to get a true sense of challenges kids face but protect student privacy, we will start with three composite students who share similarities with many students in our district but are not one student in particular.