Crowd Asks Finance Board To Pass HS Expansion Plan To Voters

By John Voket

In an attempt to nudge the Board of Finance into supporting a high school expansion recommendation, an overflow crown exceeding 220 residents showed up, forcing a relocation of the officials’ meeting from the senior center to the cafetorium at Sandy Hook School March 27. Once everyone settled into the larger space just a few hundred yards down the road from the original site, more than two dozen supporters, including several graduating high school seniors, took to the microphone offering their own takes on why they hoped the finance board would vote to move a $38.8 million construction resolution to the council.

In the end, a majority of the board agreed with supporters and moved the expansion request to the council by a 4-2 vote. The council went on to authorize a referendum on the full amount proposed April 2. (See related story.)

During almost 90-minutes of public commentary at the finance board meeting, most speakers simply requested that the finance board let voters make the ultimate decision whether to support the plan, which would expand the facility to accommodate a student population of 2,022 once the project is completed.

Once all the members of the public and several public officials had their say, finance board members settled in to consider the measure. Vice Chairman James Gaston used a chart to illustrate what he interpreted from two population projection consultants’ reports, showing an eventual student influx would eventually bring the expanded facility up to or slightly over a recently adopted 85 percent capacity standard.

Two days earlier, the Board of Education unanimously voted to accept 85 percent capacity as a standard for the district facility, based on new guidelines issued by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). That is the same body that authorizes the high school’s accreditation, and currently has that accreditation on “warning status” for probation due in part to overcrowding conditions at the existing building.

During the early stages of discussion, finance board Chairman John Kortze said his members would be posing final questions, and that he would also be reading questions posed by Democratic Selectman Herb Rosenthal, and Republican Selectman Paul Mangiafico, who was out of town that evening at a previously scheduled commitment. Mr Mangiafico two weeks earlier cast a swing vote that temporarily killed the bonding authorization for the school expansion.

Selectmen are scheduled to again consider the issue Monday, April 7, where Mr Mangiafico will have a chance to change his position with questions answered.

Following almost an hour of discussion and questioning regarding issues of capacity, the need to include gym renovations and other athletic improvements, the cost for other bid alternates, including a “green roof,” and clarifying why original fixed costs for the expansion had tripled, Mr Gaston moved the appropriation request as proposed.

Finance board member Martin Gersten countered the motion, moving an amendment reducing the special appropriation to $33 million. That motion was seconded by Michael Portnoy. Mr Gersten said he believes the entire board recognized the need for expansion, but he still questioned the size and ultimate cost of the project.

“Sixty-six percent of the voters do not have children in the school system,” Mr Gersten said, adding that the town needs the expansion plan, as well as the overall budget which included debt service for the construction, to pass at an April 22 referendum.

He reminded the board and audience that the town’s excellent bond rating might be lowered if the Newtown taxpayers force multiple referenda. “Then the $38 million may be difficult to adopt,” he cautioned.

Mr Gersten said the school board could achieve his proposed reduction by eliminating $3 million for the gym renovation, $1.7 million for artificial turf at the football field, and $600,000 from culinary arts facilities all without losing a classroom.

Mr Gaston reiterated his longstanding opinion that cutting athletic facilities would kill the project.

“There are people who do not have students in the high school who will use the athletic facilities,” Mr Gaston said, indicating he will not support the expansion budget without all athletic considerations intact.

Project architect Joseph Costa was on hand, and told the finance board that any adjustment to the building itself would be very difficult to change.

“We are within two weeks of getting our state review. We would have to start the process again,” Mr Costa said.

Finance board member Harrison Waterbury said he understood that cutting any amount would cause the project to stall and possibly be delayed one to two years. He recognized the only possible consideration for further reductions was in the bid alternates, which included the turf field and track improvements, as well as lightning protection and maintenance-free painted block interior finish.

The amendment failed 4-2 with Mr Gersten and Mr Portnoy in support. The full proposal then passed 4-2 with Mr Gersten and Mr Portnoy opposing.