Parents, alumni and students urge Darien board to keep IDEA gifted program amid proposed cuts

Darien — Parents, alumni and other community members urged the Darien Board of Education to preserve the district’s IDEA gifted program and to reconsider eliminating elementary instructional paraprofessionals during a public‑comment period opened after Superintendent Alan Adley presented the fiscal 2026 budget.

Community members said the program — which Adley described as serving about 237 students with 3.3 full‑time equivalent staff — provides specialized instruction and social cohorts that are not easily replicated in general classroom settings.

“An IDEA as it is is insufficient,” said parent Kevin Fullington, but ‘‘it’s the only place I learned anything’’ for his child; Fullington added that removing the program would “eliminate any support for our gifted and talented students.”

Caroline Comfort, a member of the PTO executive board for the district’s gifted program (DAEG), told the board: “We ask that you do a little homework and have all the data necessary to make an informed decision,” and requested IDEA be removed from the cut list while the board explores alternatives.

Alumni also spoke about long‑term impacts. Christina Molkentin, a medical student and DHS graduate who described herself as an IDEA alumna, said the program provided mentoring and challenge she credits in part for later academic success. “I was given a space to build my social and emotional skills with peers in the program,” Molkentin said.

Other alumni echoed those remarks. William Duraco said he attributed academic and career success in part to the district’s IDEA programming and urged the board to “seriously reconsider” any proposed cut.

Parents and commenters made several recurring points:

- Instructional support: Several speakers warned that eliminating 15 elementary paraprofessionals would remove supervision and in‑class supports that help both early‑grade teachers and students. - Program reach and identity: Multiple commenters emphasized IDEA’s cohort and mentorship functions and said classroom differentiation alone would not replace the program’s benefits. - Equity and district competitiveness: Speakers argued that neighboring districts’ elementary differentiated offerings help sustain higher rankings and that cutting IDEA could weaken Darien’s comparative standing.

What the speakers did not request tonight: no legal action or formal alternative budget was presented during public comment; speakers asked the board to retain the program or explore other options before finalizing reductions.

The board accepted public comment and will consider the testimony ahead of a more detailed Saturday budget review and a Feb. 4 public hearing.