DARIEN, Conn. The Darien Summer School Program enjoyed a record-breaking session this year, with 2,257 registrations, a 27 percent increase over the previous year, a school official reported Tuesday.Expenses for the Summer School Program increased 18 percent, and revenue increased 17 percent. The total surplus from the program increased 15 percent to $241,466.The increase in expenses was primarily because of the higher enrollment. More school supplies and staff were needed to handle the large student body. The school also had to pay higher bank fees because more registration payments were processed.Another change was the return of a printed catalog that was mailed to parents with children in the Darien Public Schools. Last year, the catalog of classes was available only online, which Summer School Director Chris Basta believes was the reason enrollment dropped in 2010.The most significant increase in enrollment in 2011 came at the elementary level, which saw a boost from 211 to 489 registrations, a 57 percent jump.Basta, in his second year as director of the program, was pleased with the results, which he presented to the Board of Education on Tuesday night. He said that in the future he wanted to add more afternoon enrichment classes that lasted a week. Three of the most popular weeklong classes this summer were Magic 101, a class on research skills and a logic class.The Darien Continuing Education Program was downsized this summer and no longer offered classes for adults. Instead, it had high school courses such as Driver's Education and SAT prep classes. Eighty-four students enrolled in the program, which generated $7,894 in surplus revenue.Basta said the program was also considering the addition of an early morning child care service that would allow parents to drop off their kids before classes start.Click here to vote for your child's elementary school to win $10,000 in our Better Schools Bonanza.
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