State Department of Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona and members of the agency took a tour of Danbury High School last week.  Cardona was invited by the bipartisan Danbury state legislative delegation to tour the schools and discuss overcrowding issues, and long standing state underfunding. 

Cardona was able to meet with students and learn about the programs happening at DHS, like the Early College Opportunity with Naugatuck Valley Community College.  After getting a firsthand look, the Education Department met with Superintendent Dr. Sal Pascarella, Principal Dan Donovan, Mayor Mark Boughton and the legislators to discuss K-12 issues affecting Danbury Public Schools.

(Photo: Conn. Dept. of Education)

State Representative David Arconti says it was productive meeting.  He noted that Danbury does get a $2.5 million increase in ECS funding, according to the Governor's proposed budget adjustments.  The Danbury delegation argues that more state funding is needed for increased enrollment, more English Language Learners and higher Special Education costs. 

Over the past decade, Danbury has experienced a 17-percent enrollment increase.  The district serves over 11,000 students and over 3,00 of those students attend Danbury High School.  There's been a 10-percent enrollment increase over the last 5 years alone.  This year, Danbury's enrollment was estimated to go up by 2.8 percent, but increased by 4 percent.

58-percent of all district students quality for free or reduced price lunch, and over 26-percent come from homes where English is a second language.

According to Danbury Public Schools facilities' capacity numbers, 7 elementary schools, two middle schools and the high school are all currently operating at over 100 percent capacity.