Education
McCammon Skoglund CDSP

Support for Early Learning Program, Teacher Training at Board of Ed Budget Hearing

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Speakers from the Board of Education’s public hearing Tuesday night on the superintendent’s proposed 2016-2017 budget gave strong support for the proposal’s increase in teacher training (“professional development”) and for the Early Learning Program. Proposals for capital projects — like the expansion of the Darien High School Cafeteria, improvements to the gym floor of Ox Ridge School and moving the principal’s office at Hindley School — also received support. Darien Public Schools spending would go up 3.85 percent, to $94.2 million in the 2016-2017 fiscal year under the budget proposal Superintendent Dan Brenner put forward to the Board of Education

Speakers all seemed to be either associated with the Council of Darien School Parents, an umbrella organization for parent-teacher organizations throughout the school system, or parents in the Early Learning Program. _______________

See also:

Superintendent Proposes 3.85% Increase in Darien Education Budget (Jan. 8)
Mother of Autistic Child Explains How Early Learning Program Changed His Life [VIDEO] (Feb.

Education
Robbie Gaaserud

Freshman Soccer Team Captain to Board of Ed: Please, Can We Get Team Shorts That Won’t Fall Down?

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The following statement, read by Robbie Gaaserud, captain of the Freshmen Soccer Team at Darien High School at the Board of Education’s public hearing Tuesday night on the budget, got some laughs from the audience, along with applause:

Good evening. My name is Robbie Gaaserud. I live at 35 Driftway Lane, and I am a Ninth Grader at Darien High School. This fall I had the honor of serving as a captain of the Ninth Grade soccer team. I have been playing soccer since I was 4 years old, and I’ve been looking forward to the day that I could represent my high school on the soccer field.

Education
Brenner Budget 1-2016

Superintendent Proposes 3.85% Increase in Darien Education Budget

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Darien Public Schools spending would go up 3.85 percent, to $94.2 million in the 2016-2017 fiscal year under the budget proposal Superintendent Dan Brenner put forward to the Board of Education this week. Spending would rise $3,492,817 in Brenner’s plan. Asked what parts of the new initiatives he’s proposing are particularly important, Brenner said: “Two areas that we focused on were both professional development [that is, ongoing teacher training] as well as on the technology, both of which we think will make significant differences in kids’ lives inside the classroom.” Brenner pointed out that 64 percent of the budget goes to pay employee salaries, another 13 percent goes for benefits (for a total of 77 percent), both of which are largely already determined by pre-existing union contracts and other contracts. Add to that the 6 percent of the budget that pays for utilities and transportation (which are difficult to change and even more difficult in the short term), and the vast majority of a school district budget — in this case, 83 percent — is largely set, unless officials want to cut services.