By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
Darien Village Board President Kurt Zipp announced Monday that he will not seek re-election in April so that he can focus his energy on researching alternative options for education in the village.
Zipp, who has served as board president for the past eight years, said he is looking to be an active part of the committee that was authorized by a referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot. He said he is not necessarily looking to be the committee’s chairman.
The referendum asked voters if the village should explore other educational options after the Delavan-Darien School District chose to close Darien Elementary School at the end of the 2017-18 school year. That became necessary after a district referendum failed in April to exceed state revenue caps and make some facility upgrades at the high school. Students from Darien Elementary now attend Turtle Creek Elementary and Phoenix Middle School.
The district is researching a birth-to-three tuition-based child-care program that could be housed in Darien or at Wileman Elementary School. If it is pursued and placed at Wileman, the students who attend Wileman could be moved to a re-opened Darien Elementary.
For the full story, pick up a copy of the Nov. 22 Delavan Enterprise.
