New Fairfield schools seek $109M
Superintendent wants taxpayers to help with building renovations
Superintendent wants taxpayers to help with building renovations
By Brian Saxton
THE NEWS-TIMES
NEW FAIRFIELD -- Old and unreliable heating and ventilating systems. Worn and dated bathroom plumbing fixtures. Cracked toilets and windowless classrooms. A laundry list of problems at three of New Fairfield's public schools are the target of a sweeping $109 million blueprint to fix them with new building projects and renovations. District officials have labeled them "critical elements of concern."
Preliminary estimates predict that the net cost of the overall project after state reimbursements will total $78.2 million. "This is probably the most important issue facing New Fairfield," schools Superintendent Joseph Castagnola said at a public meeting Wednesday night. Current estimates and the time frame now being considered allow for financing the project through bonding over 20 years. The three schools earmarked for improvements are Meeting House Hill School, New Fairfield High School and New Fairfield Middle School.
Castagnola, who made a formal presentation of the plan at the high school, said he hoped the community could work together to develop a final format acceptable to taxpayers at a referendum. "This is about bringing forward the needs of the district and hoping people will come to understand those needs," Castagnola said. "It's important that taxpayers participate in this project."
Another public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the high school library on Gillotti Road. Castagnola indicated that if the project moved ahead on schedule, a town referendum to approve it could be held by June next year. Because of the magnitude of the work, Castagnola said it would take about two years to complete. After the presentation, Phil Ross, the district's director of buildings and grounds, said the project is important because of the age of the school buildings. "I think the community will be surprised by the numbers, but I think when they take the time to understand them and see what they'll get for their money they'll realize they're getting school buildings that will last for the next 20 years," Ross said. Ross described the proposals as "a first step" but added: "Construction doesn't get any cheaper."
The appointment of a five-member building committee and further studies of the plan by school and town officials are expected over the next few weeks. The district has until June 30 to file an application for state aid with the Connecticut Department of Education School Facilities Unit. The building and renovation proposals range from updating utility systems and safety codes to providing new classrooms and labs and a 1,000-seat auditorium with a new stage for the high and middle schools.
Highlights include:
Meeting House Hill School (Built 1962). Code and safety updates. New water system and energy efficient lighting. New music rooms and renovated art rooms. Replacement of windows with energy efficient units. New classroom wing replaces existing building.
Cost: $28.8 million. (After reimbursement: $19.8 million).
New Fairfield Middle School (Built 1995). New media center. Updated interior entrance vestibule. Office and meeting space for staff and visitors. Additional parking, improved site circulation and field access.
Cost: $12.9 million. (After reimbursement $9.5 million).
New Fairfield High School (Built 1974). Conversion from electric heat to hot water heat. New and renovated technical education classrooms. Replacement of undersized and outdated choral and music rooms. Renovated kitchen, offices, meeting spaces and nurse's suite.
Cost: $67.4 million. (After reimbursement $48.9 million)
The project, which was developed by district officials, school administrators, architects, construction managers and other members of the community, is expected to be a major topic of conversation in town over the coming months.
New Fairfield resident Carolee Harkins, co-president of the Parent-Teacher Organizations at Meeting House Hill School, believes the town should support the project. "They've been talking about this for as long as I've lived in New Fairfield and that's been 11 years," Harkins said. "Now it's time to take care of it." Harkins has two daughters and a son who graduated from the high school and has one son in the middle school and a daughter in fourth-grade. "Although some people may be surprised by the costs involved, a lot of them just don't know the problems inside the schools," said Harkins, who described some classrooms at the high school as "poor." "Our schools are the hub of the town," said Harkins. "I want to see some nice facilities."
Contact Brian Saxton at
bsaxton@newstimes.com
or at (203) 731-3332
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