Schools

Budgeting for the Boom

School administration discuss the ramifications of economizing an enrollment increase at Darien High School.

The effects of a surge in enrollment and a shrinking budget will be hard felt at Darien High School, said Principal Dan Haron at his presentation to the Board of Education. As the Superintendent's proposed 2010-11 budget cuts over $400,000 from the high school's request, school officials are left to consider the ramifications.

"As difficult a these cuts are, DHS is still going to be an excellent high school. But there will—undoubtedly—be some impact," said Haron.

Last year, Haron accommodated for an additional 40 students without budgetary support, and he expects 59 new students to attend the high school next year: 47 seniors, 19 sophomores and four freshmen; the junior class will see a dip of 11 students. But where Haron's student body will have grown by 100 by the end of 2012, chances are great that the budget won't have budged.

Superintendent of Schools Donald Fiftal is the first to admit that economizing for the enrollment boom comes at fair a price. The proposed budget reduces Haron's request for the additional 4.45 ftes (full time equivalent/teachers) necessary to maintain class size, down to 1.25. That's a cut of over $150,000.

"There is no doubt in my mind that an increase in class size leads to an erosion of quality; it just does. In mini perceptible ways we have lessened ourselves," Fiftal said. "Anything that Mr. Haron mentions is a loss to who we are and what we are."

Maintaining an average class size of 18.83 students—the highest its been in seven years—requires an additional 19 core curriculum classes across all four grade levels. Haron said his fte request accommodates for those classes, plus an internship coordinator and an additional teacher to "relieve the NEASC Committee Chair of one class."

"Under ordinary circumstances that's a perfectly justifiable-Darien position to take, but we're going to examine really closely this time around," said Fiftal.

Without the funds to staff extra classes, DHS classes may be as large as 26, and a slice in the operating budget means not every student will have a locker. It's not just the students who are at a loss. The average DHS teacher has an 88-student load—the highest the school's seen in the past seven years. That will, by definition, increase, said Haron. And as Board of Education Secretary Clara Sartori noted, the guidance department will also feel the pressure.

"All these seniors will probably come with all their college stuff," Sartori said. "Wouldn't that be a tremendous strain on guidance?"

Board Members also questioned, somewhat rhetorically, the reason for the enrollment increase itself.

"We've had an unusual situation in the past couple of years where we've had kids returning in 11th and 12th grade. I'm wondering why they're coming back—economics?" said Heather Shea.

Bruce Orr of the Board of Finance pressed Director of Finance Richard Huot:

"Look at the enrollment at the high school. We're off big time—like five percent. Why is that happening?"

Huot said the Board has been working on persistence, and that the real challenge of predicting births remains.

"If I'm concerned with anything it's kindergarten not the high school," Huot said.

Audience members offered Haron suggestions like holding university-style lectures in the auditorium or even fundraising. Haron said he'd look for a $150,000 pocket, but that he couldn't promise that he'd find it.

"I have to make clear that this is not something that I am happy to tell you about," he said in closing. "This is just something we have to look at."


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