top of page

BOE 101

Welcome to BOE 101! Ever wonder what the Board of Education actually does? In short, the Board is responsible for setting the overall direction and vision for our public schools. Its primary responsibilities include hiring and supervising the superintendent, adopting an annual budget, creating district-wide policies, and ensuring our schools are accountable to the community. The Board serves as the vital link between our residents and the school district, working to ensure every student receives a high-quality education.

​​

​

HOW DOES THE BOARD OPERATE?

  • The Board is made up of 9 elected members

  • Each member serves a 3-year term

    • Each year, 3 seats are up for election​

  • Each November, after the municipal election, the Board holds internal elections to choose its officers: Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary

  • The Board meets bi-weekly, in public, at the Board of Education offices (35 Leroy Ave)

  • Meeting Materials are publicly available the      day before the meeting

  • Meetings are conducted via Robert's Rules

  • The Board currently has 4 subcommittees:

    • Curriculum​

    • Policy

    • Finance

    • Facilities

  • Subcommittee meetings are generally held monthly or bi-monthly

  • The Chair makes subcommittee appointments

  • Being a member of the Board is an unpaid, volunteer, elected position that carries statutory responsibility

  • Contact information for all Board members can be found on the BOE page of the DPS website: https://www.darienps.org/board-of-education

Primary Responsibilities

1. 

Hire the Superintendent

  • The Board is responsible for hiring, supporting, evaluating, and working effectively with the Superintendent of Schools.​​

  • Dr. Eric Byrne was hired as Interim Superintendent for the 2025-26 school year. The Board has hired an executive search firm, School Leadership, LLC, to conduct a nationwide search for a permanent superintendent.

  • UPDATE! At the October 28, 2025 meeting the BOE unanimously appointed Dr. Eric Bryne as permanent Superintendent for Darien Public Schools!​

2. 

Adopt an Annual Budget

  • Each fall, the Superintendent, in collaboration with district administrators, creates a budget for the upcoming school year. This proposal is presented to the Board in January.

  • UPDATE: At the October 28, 2025 meeting, the Board​ approved the FY27 Budget Calendar. This represents a change to the process Darien has followed in recent years.

    •  2026 Budget Timeline for FY27 Budget:

      • January 8 - Superintendent's Proposed Budget Presentation​

      • January 13 - BOE Meeting, Presentation/Discussion:

        • Curriculum & Instruction

        • Schools

      • January 20 - BOE Meeting, Presentation/Discussion: 

        • Special Education​

        • Athletics

      • January 27 - BOE Meeting, Presentation/Discussion: 

        • Operations​

      • February 3 - BOE Public Hearing on FY27 Budget

      • February 5 - BOE FY27 Budget Vote

  • For more information, see the October 28, 2025 meeting materials.

3.

Set Policy

  • The Board is a legislative body that develops, evaluates, and oversees district-wide education policies. The Superintendent is the professional educator chosen by the Board to implement policies and to provide professional leadership (and vision) for a district’s schools.

Additional Practices

Goals

  • The Board also translates the district’s mission into actionable annual goals. On September 9, 2025, the Board approved the following six goals:

    • ​Complete successful Superintendent Search resulting in the appointment of a new Superintendent for SY 2026-2027

    • Complete successful and timely contract negotiations resulting in approved contracts for each bargaining unit

    • Deliver a fiscally responsible FY27 Budget

    • Oversee HHR elementary building projects, complete Middlesex Middle School Facilities Study, and study long term capital project needs including a bus depot

    • Enhance engagement and communication between the community, the Board and District Administration

    • Establish a culture of strategic oversight that ensures that the Board remains focused on governance rather than management

​

Curriculum

  • The Board ensures our schools have a high-quality, comprehensive educational program. While it delegates the day-to-day development of curriculum to a team of district administrators, the Board provides critical oversight. The Board also has a Curriculum Subcommittee, consisting of four Board members, that meets monthly with the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Dr. Amy Fedigan.

​

Communication​

  • The Board is responsible for keeping the community informed about the goals, values, conditions, and needs of our public schools. This transparency helps ensure that residents are knowledgeable partners in our town's education system. All board meetings, with the exception of Executive Session, are held in public and are recorded. Direct communication to families (via email, newsletters, etc) comes from Administration.

* See CABE/CAPPS School Governance Position Statement 2016 for        additional  details and information

 

© 2025 by Lublin for BOE. Paid for by Lublin for BOE. Jena Hines, Treasurer. Approved by Kadi Lublin. 

 

bottom of page