Negotiations between school administrators and the Board of Education drew contentious debate at two arbitration hearings over the weekend, with lawyers on both sides using the special education debacle to try and sway the arbitration panel.
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A controversial piece of a complicated puzzle has emerged with an 18-page letter penned by Darien’s former special education director who describes a desperate Board of Education that hired her to fix a culture that catered to the whims of demanding parents and their high-powered lawyers.
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More than 10% of children with disabilities are being taught in schools outside of Darien, and this has parents and district administrators concerned for a variety of reasons. Yet the exact number of children who are receiving special education services who live in Darien remains unreported.
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Negotiations between school administrators and the Board of Education began Friday, and lawyers on both sides used the special education debacle to try and sway the arbitration panel to deciding in their favor.
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Children’s special education plans are finally being examined, 10 months after parents brought concerns to the school board in the form of a state complaint alleging that the district was illegally changing these plans.
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The number of children attending schools outside of Darien reached a seven-year high last year, according to a Darien Times analysis. This happened as Darien High School was ranked best in the state by U.S. News & World Report. Continue reading
If money-saving drove last year’s illegal special education program, the school district seems to now find itself on the other side of the fiscal fence.
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Shelton’s school chief says his district hired Darien’s No. 2 special education administrator over 18 other applicants for a top-level position there.
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The forensic audit into Darien’s special education reimbursements began last week, despite the auditor being hired in late November.
Kate Buch, finance director, said the annual audit was also taking place at the end of last year, so that work took precedence. It’s unclear how long the audit will take. CohnReznick was hired, and estimated the job to cost from $12,000 to $15,000.
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The second most powerful special education administrator has resigned at the peak of Darien’s special education crisis to take a similar, lesser-paying position with Shelton Public Schools.
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David DesRoches 