DHS Seniors Could Win Right to Arrive Late, Leave Early

DHS Principal Pitches Flexibility for Seniors 

seniors who earn good grades may be able to arrive to the campus late and leave early in the spring semester if the Board of Education approves a proposal brought forward by principal Dan Haron.

Speaking to the board Tuesday, Haron cited a desire to prepare seniors for college by granting them freedom to choose how to spend their time, to reduce congestion in the parking lot during the morning and afternoon rush, and to fall in line with policies across similar school districts.

"Truth be told, many of our seniors leave school early if they have no more classes at the end of the day, and arrive late if they do not have a first time-slot class," Haron said. "We will develop a system to keep track of which students are in the building at any given point."

The proposal would pertain only to seniors who do not have classes in the first or last time slots of the day, who earn at least a 2.5 grade point average, who do not have disciplinary problems, and who receive parental approval.

Haron received the proposal from the DHS Community Council.

Board Chairman Kim Westcott said the idea of an open campus was a perennial topic and saluted Haron for proposing it.

"I think you are brave to bring it forward," she said.

Board member Clara Sartori asked Haron if the plan could undermine the school's strong academic record and whether it might increase the likelihood of reckless driving around elementary school students walking home near the DHS campus.

"I am wondering if you are going to ask for a more ambitious schedule next year," Sartori said. "I am a little concerned about this one being used other than how it is supposed to be used."

Haron acknowledged Sartori's concerns but noted that police monitor the roads around the high school campus in the morning when students arrive and in the afternoon when they leave. Haron said that he communicates with the police and that if he hears about unsafe drivers, he takes appropriate action.

"We have a rotating schedule, so students cannot tailor their schedule. A few years ago, we introduced the sixth credit requirement to seniors," Haron said. "Though it is something we should monitor, it is not something I am as concerned about, at least initially."

The board did not vote Tuesday on Haron's request.

Barbara Harrington Fund Disburses $17K in Grants

The Darien Advocates for the Education of the Gifted distributed $17,273 in grants to 30 educators in the school district this year. The Barbara Harrington Grants honor the educator who founded IDEA, a program for academically gifted students.

Carolyn Langelier, a co-chairman of the grant review committee, explained the history of the organization at Tuesday's board meeting. The grants pay for teachers to enroll at the Columbia University Teachers College Summer Institute and attend workshops at other institutions to learn a specific skill related to their teaching.

"We were glad to have the opportunity to double the number of Darien Public School staff who are attending the institute," Langelier said. "We look forward to collaborating and promoting excellent education in Darien."

District Showing $80-100K Surplus to Date

Three months after the Board of Finance to cover special education overruns, DPS finance director Richard Huot said Tuesday that the district is showing a surplus of between $80,000 and $100,000.

But bills arrive slowly in the summer, Huot noted, meaning he has not been able to arrive at a final tally yet.

"We are developing a strategy to deal with negative balances as we go along," he said.

"As you go through the budget, you see aides and secretaries are under budget," Huot added.

In 2010, the Board of Education of a similar $350,000 stopgap.

On a related note, the district hired two specialists for its special education department, Superintendent Stephen Falcone said.

"We find hiring two specialists saves us $40,000 to $50,000," Falcone said. "We are not paying for travel time and work done outside the school building."