Darien Board of Education Chairman Elizabeth Hagerty-Ross spoke before the Representative Town Meeting on Monday approved the schools budget. Here's what she said:
Good Evening, Madame Moderator, members of the RTM, elected officials and the town of Darien. On behalf of my colleagues on the Darien Board of Education and our Administration, it is my pleasure to submit for your approval the Darien Board of Education 2013-2014 Recommended Budget of $83,224,929 or an increase of 4.05%.
Our recommended capital budget is $426,700. The capital projects include an additional electrical hook- up for the 35 Leroy generator, a generator at Hindley School, resurfacing the blacktop at Royle School, replacement carpets at 4 elementary schools, the reconfiguration of high school gym lockers, the removal of poison ivy at the high school, and a new pickup truck and trailer.
The majority of the 4.05% increase is comprised of an increase in medical insurance, the re-instatement of a Furniture (desks and chairs) replacement program and security enhancements.
The medical insurance increase is 1.2 million dollars or a 13% increase. The original increase quoted was over 25%, but our Administration immediately re-bid our medical plans and worked with our unions to change carriers again. With this change, we have lowered the increase by 12%
In March, we came before the RTM and received approval for funding additional security measures and 6 campus monitors at our Middle School and Elementary schools. The enhancements to our physical plants are well underway. We have begun the interview process for our campus monitors. After analyzing the cost of using an outside security firm or hiring additional FTE’s in the district, the cost difference came down to benefits.
In our minds, it also came down to having a consistent person in each of our schools, making connections with our parents and the young children that we educate.
We believe that the benefit of using campus monitors that report to the district, and who become part of each school community was the priority. We are hoping to have the monitors in the schools before the end of this school year. It is also our plan to return any of the unused funds to the town at the end of the fiscal year.
Finally, as the economy took a slight turn upward housing sales and rentals in Darien have climbed and our enrollment is again on the rise. We are currently working on education specifications for two school expansion plans that you will be hearing about over the next few months. We are currently investigating expansions at both Tokeneke and Royle elementary schools.
This budget balances the educational excellence that is expected by our community and our fiscal responsibility to the Town of Darien.
We would like to thank the members of the Board of Finance, the RTM-Education, Finance & Budget Committees and our parent community who challenge us every year to look carefully at the management of the school district’s financial resources. We listen to your recommendations and answer your challenges. We appreciate the time and your participation in the budget process.
You have spent countless hours with us in our many meetings, listening to presentations, preparing for and participating in the discussions that helped set this year’s Board of Education budget. With the community of Darien and the RTM’s longstanding support of education, together, we have built a great asset for the town of Darien.
The core of our school system is our students. They represent the future of our community and our world. We request that you continue to support this investment in the future of our community by supporting the Darien Board of Education 2013- 2014 Recommended Budget.
Thank you.
Elizabeth Hagerty-Ross
Darien Board of Education - Chairman
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