October 13 BOE Regular Meeting

Darien Public Schools Board of Education regular meeting, October 13, 2026: The board reviewed the need and early planning for a Middlesex Middle School renovation, driven by enrollment growth (1,005 students currently versus a 900-student design capacity, with 1,165 projected by 2035), classroom and student-support space shortages, a leaking roof, and aging mechanical systems. Preliminary project estimates were approximately $75 million for priority-one work and another $20 million for priority-two work, or about $95 million total, including full project costs. The priority-one estimate assumes renovation of the existing auditorium; an alternative 800-seat auditorium was estimated at about $20 million, and a possible third floor at about $10 million. Board members requested more information and comparisons—including auditorium use and educational need, capacity, parking, and traffic—before settling the educational specifications. No project scope, budget, or contract was approved at this meeting.

The anticipated next steps are to revise the educational specifications for further board review, then, if approved, establish a building committee in early January. That committee would issue RFPs for architectural, engineering, and construction-management services and advance schematic design. The town would need to demonstrate funding capacity, likely through a bond resolution; staff described a state reimbursement grant of roughly 20% of eligible expenses, with an application targeted for May. Three board members volunteered to help refine the specifications. Separately, the board reviewed the proposed FY2028 budget-development timeline and agreed to include a follow-up discussion after the fiscal forecast at a November meeting. No procurement-related vote or contract award was recorded.