Darien board adopts $125.76 million FY2026 operating budget after hours of debate over paras, software and intramurals

The Darien Board of Education on Feb. 11 approved a $125,760,223 operating budget for fiscal year 2026 — a 4.92% increase — and a $1,139,150 capital budget after a two-hour public and board discussion that centered on paraprofessional staffing, after-school intramurals, consultant contracts and scheduled cuts to instructional software.

Why it matters: The adopted operating budget funds curriculum work, special education staffing, additional school mental-health and security personnel and continued facility planning while exceeding the Board of Finance guideline that some town groups had sought. Voters and the Representative Town Meeting will see the adopted BOE budget as it moves through the town approval process.

Board chair opening remarks framed the night as a budget decision about “the dollars that support our students” and described projected multi-year cost pressures, including contractual settlements and special-education cost volatility. Superintendent Dr. Douglas Adley reviewed line items and the district’s longer-term capital needs before the board and public comment periods began.

Public comment and administration presentations Several district principals, administrators and parents urged the board to preserve existing positions and programs. Paula Blakely, Holmes Elementary principal and co‑president of the Darien Administrator Association, told the board, “We want to ensure that there are no cuts to the positions or programs required to meet their needs.” Scott McCarthy, special-education administrator and co‑president of the Darien Administrator Association, asked the board not to “regress to an inferior model” of teacher‑leadership that would reduce department chairs to smaller, less released teacher‑leader stipends.

Parents raised taxes and local funding as a practical option: Laura Pesch Gray noted an estimate of about 6,978 households in town and offered a hypothetical calculation for voluntary additional household contributions as context for the board’s choices.

Key discussion items and amendments - Paraprofessionals vs. interns: Much of the debate focused on elementary paraprofessionals (paras). Several board members and many emailed and in‑person commentators urged retaining para staffing levels. The board considered an amendment package that aimed to maintain two paras per elementary school while supplementing substitute coverage with one intern per building; that package was amended and passed in parts during the meeting.

- Intramurals (Middlesex): Board members debated whether to restore middle‑school intramurals funding. Administration noted large fluctuations in participation historically and a full‑year line item budget of roughly $42,000. After discussion the board reinstated middle‑school intramurals at $35,000 for FY2026.

- Technology/software cuts: A sub‑amendment to reduce the district software budget by 10% (a roughly $110,000 reduction as calculated during discussion) passed after floor debate. Board discussion emphasized a need for flexibility to select software aligned to curriculum and assessment, but the 10% reduction was approved as an offset to other restorations.

- Instructional resources (BrainPOP) and videoconferencing: A motion to eliminate the BrainPOP subscription failed; board members cited teacher usage and curricular alignment in opposition. A later attempt to reduce Zoom licenses (retaining a boardroom/large‑meeting license only) did not pass.

- Convocation and catering: The board debated reductions to the convocation/catering line and ultimately adjusted the line during the amendment process; members cited staff recognition and the limited savings at stake.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (special meeting 01/28/2025; regular meeting 01/28/2025; special meeting 02/04/2025): Passed, unanimous. - Amendment (10% reduction to identified software line items): Passed (vote recorded during meeting; motion carried following floor vote). - Reinstatement of Middlesex intramurals at $35,000: Passed (motion to restore the programe at a reduced budget was approved after amendment and vote). - Motion to eliminate BrainPOP subscription: Failed (the motion did not carry). - Approval of operating budget for FY2026, $125,760,223 (4.92% increase): Passed, unanimous vote recorded on the final motion. - Approval of capital budget, $1,139,150: Passed, unanimous.

What the budget does and next steps The adopted operating budget continues funding for curriculum department chairs, special-education personnel and counseling and mental‑health supports, maintains staffing priorities the administration highlighted, and keeps the district on a multi‑year capital planning track (the board noted large building projects on the horizon). Board members and administration said they will continue outreach to the Board of Finance and RTM as the town process continues.

Board and staff follow‑ups Board members requested future agenda items to clarify how DEI and SEL spending are categorized and to provide line‑item clarity for consultants, substitutes and software usage. Administration committed to returning additional detail on those cost centers.

Ending After the votes the chair thanked board members, staff and the public for their engagement and noted follow‑up items would be placed on future agendas.

Quotes in this article come from board and public speakers recorded in the Feb. 11, 2025 meeting transcript of the Darien School District Board of Education.