[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,87,99,111],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6538754,"mediaKeyId","3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92","parentId",3799668,"title","Darien board hears strong parent pushback on proposed Monday late starts, weighs alternatives","audioSeconds",7484,"startMs",110000,"endMs",7594000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92&start=110&end=7594","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92/thumbnail_110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6538754/Connecticut/Darien-board-hears-strong-parent-pushback-on-proposed-Monday-late-starts-weighs-alternatives","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538754-edcfd716136fd3879822d822940ade64/orig.mp4?Expires=1770245856&Signature=nn-jINDblchf7mnngfJuSCo40IdScH-1CgHEYWjuK2mL8fZ~oo8IlrG1SmRujJYeJcyhhcD-A0oLExtsH8zXe5UgobYyqDB9Qq8bqM85ftAO7-ymNF3y~z9~9vysjFv2XNzbtwjqjBzCfa~5DTXAjB7VgGM26dT7iZYm0F1CJULBIr3jnsKaCDJ6NfYImEoiriKOOT-oafrj9~bnyYeqmwiZVLln~JugMM92k8WxGQNWcAdmfkBrX8sIQ01e9P8nAM7XUGqPdFk~DmaSFckHkV2sCl3G-zuwzfmPxlAPK1czTj2fNJAWqBxuz4AlbGlha2HZytSKtekHZAkIQT~Kkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Darien School District","date","2025-06-11T14:29:08Z","article","Public commenters, parent groups and a representative of the town's Representative Town Meeting said the Darien Board of Education's proposed 2025–26 calendar — which would include multiple delayed-start Mondays for elementary professional learning community (PLC) time — creates significant hardship for families and youngest learners.

Crystal Hill, chair of the Coordinated District Support Partnership (CDSP), told the board that parents \"fully support that teachers need additional professional learning\" for new literacy curriculum, but that \"10 delayed arrival days on Mondays ... is a significant disruption and logistical challenge for many households.\" She suggested full professional development days aligned with existing holidays, supervised enrichment on PLC days, or moving late-start days to Fridays to ease childcare issues.

A member of Darien's Representative Town Meeting (RTM), Sheila Quinn, relayed a unanimous RTM education committee view that the Monday morning option is \"not viable\" for the reasons parents described and urged that teachers be included in calendar decisions. A student, Alina Shazad, spoke separately at public comment to request that the district recognize the two major Islamic holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, as official school holidays on future calendars.

Administrators said they are working to balance teacher professional learning needs — including implementation time for a new elementary literacy curriculum — with family logistics. Superintendent Alan (Superintendent) told the board the administration has proposed a second calendar option that shifts some PLC time and that a vote is likely to occur at the board's June meeting. \"We're probably not going to vote until our next meeting in June,\" he told the audience.

Board members asked for more specifics about whether existing professional development days can be repurposed, whether a mix of early-dismissal elementary days and high-school PLCs could reduce family burden, and how different models would affect bus scheduling and teacher contracts. Finance staff outlined funding tradeoffs and how calendar choices intersect with budget planning; administrators noted state requirements for 180 student days constrain how much the year can be shifted.

Several board members requested additional detail and options before a final vote: the board asked administration to produce a clearer comparison of alternatives including Friday late starts, a smaller number of elementary early-dismissal days, or other combinations that limit Monday impacts. Board members also asked staff to quantify how much existing PD time could be reallocated and to provide parent and teacher-focused communications over the summer.

No calendar vote was taken at the May meeting. The board indicated it would continue public outreach and deliberate the final calendar at its June meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Parents and civic groups told the Darien Board of Education that a proposed 2025–26 calendar with multiple Monday delayed-start professional development days would place an unfair burden on families, prompting the board to promise more outreach and further study before a likely June vote.","taxTitle","Darien School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",55224,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6538759,"Darien board approves $32,806 budget amendment to buy Yondr phone pouches for high school",1871,4296000,6167000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92&start=4296&end=6167","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92/thumbnail_4296000.jpg","/articles/6538759/Connecticut/Darien-board-approves-32806-budget-amendment-to-buy-Yondr-phone-pouches-for-high-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538759-a6bea0d8a193870d32a21fb6e4f4ae5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770245856&Signature=WSiYLTaA72hoV3QW4~-ihNwfY~JOpvC0NbbqVQ3AbZ6ff7LlaLo1pqhlhMHbNgZ9myBNE7PgAWzS5aRaBjNNOOivVccGqiUiMAHG2XTSTvlwutG-r0wa9r2y6im0aS5FEtOYYd268Acxvg5NXnYvi4i7whmxTLcpbFlzHCwShQkfxPz9GzjSJFP3PGBvfTy1KoFNAGr-wJQgbECcem0ZeMOLvACSOvzmS7--I1lmRC5fWgF3RfRZZfw9aVEG7aigE8VhXTzrosFYT9MSIh8DjHjTZcgK2s4E5CTSVudjVUIWnnmgn-FXesPrRK~5iY5IoFrFg6eG-Jl8O4-SgSYQAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Darien Board of Education voted to amend its fiscal 2026 operating budget to purchase Yondr phone-lock pouches for Darien High School, approving a $32,806 transfer to buy student pouches and supporting equipment.

Board members said the decision follows a high-school pilot and site visits that showed teachers and administrators saw fewer distractions when phones were not visible. Staff presented the Yondr system — a fabric pouch with a locking pin that students secure at school and unlock at dismissal with a station — as a turnkey option that includes onboarding and ongoing support.

The administration described student feedback from a pilot and from a visit to another Connecticut high school that uses the program. \"The pouch doesn't solve all the world's problems. We're just working to shift student behavior with this approach,\" said Tim (staff member), who presented implementation details to the board. Ellen (staff member), who co-presented the pilot findings, said students in the pilot reported reduced screen time and increased socializing at lunch.

Board members pressed staff on logistics, exceptions and ongoing costs. Staff said Yondr assigns each student a pouch for the year, expects one-station-per-120 students for unlock stations and provides a lifetime estimate of three to four years per pouch under normal use. The district plans a limited number of non-locking pouches for documented medical needs and a process for lost or damaged pouches.

Finance staff described funding options. Rich (staff member) told the board the purchase could be made from this year's surplus or by amending the FY26 budget; the board chose a budget amendment. Rich also said future replacement costs would likely be borne in routine supply budgets and estimated a one-grade-per-year replacement cycle.

The board discussed enforcement and practical issues: whether teachers would have unlock devices for occasional instructional use (some teachers will; others would request devices as needed), how families who rely on phone messages would be accommodated, and the potential for a brief adjustment period at dismissal. Board members asked the administration to plan communication and a brief grace period at launch so buses and families are not disrupted.

Motion and vote: The motion to modify the fiscal year 2026 operating budget to purchase phone-lock bags for $32,806 (increasing RC 1 general teaching supplies and reducing RC 19 textbooks by the same amount) was made by John (board member) and seconded by Katie (board member). The motion passed; the board recorded the vote in the meeting as: Grambling, Brown, Bublin, McCammon, Nelson and Cini — yes; Maroney — no. The motion's tally was recorded in public discussion as six in favor and one opposed. The board also discussed the option of purchasing the bags from this year's surplus but elected the FY26 amendment so Yondr can begin onboarding and summer implementation planning.

The administration said Yondr will provide onboarding meetings and check-ins over the summer and during the first months of implementation. The board asked staff to provide further implementation details and enforcement plans as the program launches.

Supporters argued the pouches help address classroom distractions and student well-being; some board members and students emphasized remaining attentive to student anxieties about separation from devices and to reasonable accommodations. Opponents at the meeting raised concerns about managing and replacing pouches and whether non-locking alternatives or existing school lockers could be used instead.

The board also voted separately earlier in the meeting to approve a set of policy revisions (see related article).","The Darien Board of Education voted to amend its fiscal 2026 budget to buy Yondr phone-lock pouches for Darien High School after a pilot and outreach showing phones distract students. The board debated logistics, exceptions and funding options before approving a $32,806 modification.",{"_32":88,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":89,"_40":90,"_42":91,"_44":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6538742,"Board approves updated safety, bullying and ethics policies required by recent state changes",313,8701000,9014000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92&start=8701&end=9014","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92/thumbnail_8701000.jpg","/articles/6538742/Connecticut/Board-approves-updated-safety-bullying-and-ethics-policies-required-by-recent-state-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538742-939ad56991be08793069f1839fb918d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770245856&Signature=My~QY2wBDB1fYWPq8tKmD-fOMo37kWePg7mUCkbaVy140VbqyK8Rlj9FrcvxtoGcdd5fGM3RQyQsDo1BqIVKkHTELgUM3yWuhd4-J5GKfw0GkpzgOp7jRCdw~phzDEcNGhiMY4jTPCpL7Jb83v5kdxuQC0Id-6ViVltzsTcjOu20PVHGhfxZzEfBJfEaz2vj74YgJnG7cpqb290QmBTUBn82HhZgIh4zT7kixx7sL~9BjVTAqQEBVEAPOjAPUzKWEPG~b46odnh5HTMchf2kLrvJHzWXgP5cj~iyNJAWgQvKvE5OEGzTmHODreDACagSw5KlTdyDveONlEsqgtjTWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Darien Board of Education voted unanimously to approve proposed revisions to a set of board policies covering bullying prevention and intervention, restorative practices, suicide prevention and intervention, visitor rules, school security and a staff code of ethics.

Administrators told the board the changes reflect recent statutory updates and guidance, with language revised to align district procedures with state requirements. During discussion, several board members noted recent changes to the state's bullying definitions and asked for continued policy review; one board member recommended the policy committee examine where the board might assert local discretion on future mandated language.

Motion and vote: A motion to approve the proposed revisions to policies 51-75 (bullying prevention and intervention/safe school climate), 51-80 (restorative practices), 53-75 (suicide prevention), 12-25 (visitors), 13-10 (school security) and 40-10 (code of ethics) was moved and seconded and passed unanimously in the meeting record.

Board members asked that the policy subcommittee continue reviewing statutory changes and recommend clarifications where appropriate. The board also made a separate motion to ask the policy committee to review a possible social-media policy for board members; that motion passed with recorded abstentions.","The Darien Board of Education unanimously approved revisions to multiple policies including bullying prevention, restorative practices, suicide prevention, visitors, school security and a staff code of ethics; members noted some language reflects state statutory changes that will be reviewed in policy committee.",{"_32":100,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":101,"_40":102,"_42":103,"_44":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6538745,"Resident raises concerns about sexualized content in district libraries during public comment",157,549000,706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92&start=549&end=706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92/thumbnail_549000.jpg","/articles/6538745/Connecticut/Resident-raises-concerns-about-sexualized-content-in-district-libraries-during-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538745-7bec4f444aa494f1cbd5a0d2c9a04e21/orig.mp4?Expires=1770245856&Signature=DTvadj9O0XI5aMv1ZHtUjMCNNxdjAdSE5jhDVpJuHOZ7pg0nmVl27mDMEBROwI7NpyCqfrzsWFt3XDwPLksn5Th~mV-A7uScinc3avVqCDZdbkmSGUOG3ve4EUBlVzuN3kItRWTSDBBOyArUW7HAm-CI-s0FZL41k6lQjMZnTMjfUsSljdE52HMHKBYueS8ZKSh08N8j~shEFRugaylmLif8s1F-z1mggB~xhDT0oAe-AAzyuM8q-NBtwWcEWLdEwlM--3MGr9r7W~Po7yKraD-z6nte-fjxsaoJcnGGVMysRAJJJSS7UAnvM-n0Z4r9NZnsxZKOubRda9md8mvSlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Darien resident urged the board to review library and curricular materials he described as sexualizing minors and criticized district practices he associated with social-emotional learning (SEL).

The speaker, identified in the meeting as Doug (Darien resident), said he had published opinion columns and that certain books in school libraries contain explicit illustrations and content he found inappropriate for minors. He said the district's rationale that such materials support the mental health of underrepresented groups was a \"false equivalence\" and questioned district survey practices in middle grades. \"Pretending this material doesn't exist will continue to undermine trust,\" he told the board.

Board members did not take immediate action related to the public comment. The speaker's remarks were part of a broader public-comment period that also included calls for calendar changes and religious-holiday recognition. The board did not discuss the specific titles or ask for a formal review at the meeting; staff did not announce any immediate follow-up action during the session.","A Darien resident used public comment to object to library materials he described as sexualizing children and argued for greater transparency about curricular content and social-emotional learning practices.",{"_32":112,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":113,"_40":114,"_42":115,"_44":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6538749,"Darien student asks board to recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as school holidays",209,255000,464000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92&start=255&end=464","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3799668-2ab4a16d2786e369d4377272d168da92/thumbnail_255000.jpg","/articles/6538749/Connecticut/Darien-student-asks-board-to-recognize-Eid-al-Fitr-and-Eid-al-Adha-as-school-holidays","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538749-25e7fcf58eadd7f48a6184682505cc46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770245856&Signature=PBPRz4TgGfZ3adbuHY48imrHLXtD-1w6FE~lEck-XMz~0XM3D9mbhLsR7leOqt5U~T9TAVNygLQ2FzZ1ZlCqylzxq7qyoh08FRG-GShe5rmelABK3HPcPlC4Ybmz1xCr9E-LOXiyygCuCuqo~Sm-uTnCPFs6WUlAESgJbW~wH3~035O2ifDte1rpV~xSnzkgszhhEAaV9-xX4qSkoraiDfpfGUEZR-qJh1ltV8ZwMn-5QulDTnCpQaJfiFYPcKTiLAbJVeeYQo6HEXA8Pd0J4gmup30LXavJsXt-g37rZQr6Yc3ZjZ0xDKkDaWPt9qUDgxTyEIRH3e1PYbs4siNudQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Darien High School student urged the Board of Education to recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as official district holidays on the school calendar.

Alina Shazad, a rising senior at Darien Public Schools, described how Eid mornings are important religious celebrations that follow Ramadan and said Muslim students and staff currently must choose between religious observance and school responsibilities. \"All we're asking for is 2 days, 1 for each Eid,\" she told the board, adding that neighboring Connecticut districts — including Norwalk, Stamford, Fairfield, Trumbull and others — had already recognized Eid on their calendars.

Shazad said Eid accommodations would better support students who observe Ramadan and Eid, and argued that recognizing the holidays would signal that Darien values inclusion. She told the board she often returns from Eid to a heavy academic workload and asked the district to provide clearer communication to families about calendar changes.

Board members did not take action on the request at the meeting. The topic was discussed in the broader calendar conversation and board members asked staff to consider the request alongside other calendar alternatives and to report back before the June meeting.","A Darien High School senior asked the Board of Education to add the two major Islamic holy days to the district calendar, citing hardship when students miss school and comparing Darien to neighboring districts that have already recognized Eid.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Darien board hears strong parent pushback on proposed Monday late starts, weighs alternatives

Darien board approves $32,806 budget amendment to buy Yondr phone pouches for high school

Board approves updated safety, bullying and ethics policies required by recent state changes

Resident raises concerns about sexualized content in district libraries during public comment

Darien student asks board to recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as school holidays