Darien finance committee reports $47,698 projected deficit for January; placement, turnover narrow shortfall

Darien School District finance staff told the Board of Education finance committee on Feb. 13 that the district is projecting a $47,698 general fund deficit for January 2025, an improvement of $144,625 from the prior month.

The improvement reflects several items, staff said. The largest single change was a temporary placement change for a student previously placed out of district, producing $140,001.96 in tuition savings while the student remains in a temporary placement. Staff also cited a vacant custodial position at the high school and turnover in maintenance and other positions that produced modest salary savings, including roughly $2,300 in salary savings, about $1,200 from the painter turnover and $823 in step-and-level savings at a middle school club. In total, staff reported general education RC accounts are forecasted at a positive $15,331 and special education RCs are forecasted at a deficit of $63,029, which staff said is primarily due to excess-cost changes.

Staff reported RC 24 (tuition) is showing a surplus of $224,278 because one student returned to district and another is in a temporary placement that reduced out-of-district tuition obligations. The presentation noted the district budgeted excess-cost reimbursement at 70% but expects a 59.96% reimbursement; staff said the district awaits its first initial installment of excess-cost aid, expected within two weeks, and recorded an associated deficit amount in the report (the recorded figure in the meeting audio was unclear).

Committee members asked staff to flag new items in future reports so that changes from month to month are easier to identify. A committee member identified as Jordan asked specifically whether the report can highlight what is new; staff pointed to a chart in the report that highlights recent changes. Committee member Bridal asked whether the $140,001.96 placement-related savings are recurring; staff said the savings are temporary for the period before the new placement begins, which staff said they expect could start in the spring, and that the savings will not continue into the next fiscal year once a new placement is in place.

Staff also summarized turnover savings across personnel categories: 42 teacher turnovers producing about $264,000 in savings and 22 paraprofessional turnovers producing about $138,000 in savings attributed to the new salary schedule. Staff said the budgeted turnover credit for the year has been extinguished, with only small amounts left in individual accounts for positions such as the vacant painter and custodian roles.

There were no general fund budget transfers presented. The committee opened the public comment period and received no public speakers.