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Board approves April transfers, agrees to $55,000 surplus purchase for inoperable classroom displays
Summary
The board accepted the April financial report and approved transfers for a $27,000 superintendent search firm. Separately the board voted 5–3 to authorize $55,000 from forecasted FY25 surplus to replace 11 inoperable ViewSonic interactive panels; the remainder of the surplus will be discussed at a future meeting.
At its May 27 meeting the Darien Board of Education reviewed an April financial report forecasting a projected positive balance and approved two actions affecting district spending and encumbrances.
Finance staff reported a projected positive fund balance of $575,310 in the fiscal‑year 2025 forecast, driven in part by unexpectedly higher excess‑cost special education reimbursement from the state. The board voted unanimously to approve April budget transfers, including a recommended $27,000 transfer to cover costs related to the superintendent search firm; the motion to approve the April transfers was moved and seconded and carried unanimously.
Later in the meeting board members debated options for spending a portion of the forecasted surplus. After discussion — including several members urging caution because the surplus derived largely from one‑time state excess‑cost reimbursement — the board approved a motion to use $55,000 of the FY25 forecasted surplus to replace 11 inoperable ViewSonic interactive classroom panels. The motion passed 5–3. The roll call recorded those voting in favor as John, Sarah, Robin, Joanna and Jill; those opposed were Dennis, Katie and Dave.
Board members emphasized that the remaining projected surplus would be the subject of a broader discussion at the board retreat and in the June meeting, with several members urging either returning unspent surplus to the town or creating a formal non‑lapsing (multi‑year) technology account after a fuller review.
Ending: The board asked administration to prepare a prioritized list of recommended uses for any remaining surplus and to present alternative approaches — including capital vs. operating funding, multi‑year replacement cycles and the tradeoffs of returning funds — at the next meeting and the summer retreat.
Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve April budget transfers (included recommendation for $27,000 transfer for superintendent search firm). Moved: John (as recorded); Second: Dennis (as recorded). Vote: unanimous in favor. - Motion: Use $55,000 of FY25 forecasted surplus to replace 11 inoperable ViewSonic panels. Mover: not specified in transcript; Second: not specified in transcript. Vote: approved 5–3 (Yes: John; Sarah; Robin; Joanna; Jill. No: Dennis; Katie; Dave).
