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DARIEN, Conn. – Darien schools have supported adding foreign language to the elementary schools, as well as a social worker to help at-risk students. They also supported adding varsity rugby to Darien High School, after the Board of Education approved its budget for 2012-13 on Tuesday night.
The district’s operating budget for next year increased $4,010,377 over last year, or 5.62 percent, for an overall budget of $80,320,182.
The foreign language instruction at the elementary schools will cost $344,000, which includes the cost of adding a new teacher at each of the five schools. Board members George Reilly, Amy Bell and Morgan Whittier voted against the proposal. Reilly said he was uncertain about adding five new staff members, especially in this economic environment. Whittier had been in favor of phasing the program in over three years rather than funding it all at once.
Bell was the only board member who voted against the program when it was first proposed. She said one 45-minute period per week would not be an effective way to teach Spanish to students. She also disagreed that the program could be expanded or improved later.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the social worker in the elementary schools. Some had questioned whether it was the schools’ responsibility to tackle problems that students might be having in their home lives. Ultimately, it was decided that the children’s issues affect their school work enough and took up enough administrator resources that the social worker was necessary.
Board members said the rugby club had shown it had earned the right to have varsity status through its performance both on and off the field. Though three board members thought rugby should stay a club sport for another year, varsity status was granted.
The Board of Education will present its budget to the Board of Finance in early March for review.
And how i the world is the language program going to be implemented. What is the curriculum, what is the year to year plan for the next 5 years? For 45 minutes can't 2-3 teachers do? Is this another slam dunk curriculum with no plans. goals, etc? Waste of money. A GOOD plan should be supported not one like this that is impulsive. Unfortunately, Darien has a habit of reacting rather than planning and implementing well thought out, reasonable long-term goals.