Darien public hearing draws pleas to retain paraeducators, wellness center and avoid class‑size increases in proposed 2025–26 budget

The Darien Board of Education held a public hearing on the superintendent's proposed 2025–26 budget (date not specified), hearing more than a dozen speakers who urged the board to preserve classroom paraeducators, mental‑health programming and safety staffing rather than rely on cuts or increases in class size.

The public hearing focused on the size of the proposed budget and specific reductions that speakers said would harm students. "We support smaller class sizes that provide a better environment for all learners to thrive," said Crystal Hill, CVSP chair, speaking on behalf of school PTO representatives and the CDSP executive board. "We support the retention of instructional paraeducators in our elementary schools."

The hearing matters because board members will vote on a final budget next week; the board chair said the body is still reviewing additions and subtractions recommended by the administration and listening to public input. Several speakers argued that cuts to paraeducators and school mental‑health services would reduce instructional…