An Essential Town Project

To the Editor:

I feel a great responsibility requesting to spend tax dollars. Therefore, I have spent a great deal of time researching the current high school expansion project.

Why would I encourage you to vote Yes for the high school expansion on April 22?

To fulfill both the educational and space requirements asked for by NEASC.

To fulfill new educational requirements passed last year by the Board of Education for the current ninth grade and beyond.

To solve the overcrowding problem for the foreseeable future. The high school is now 122 students over capacity. All of the enrollment projections show the current seventh, fifth, and second grade classes to be projected larger than any other class presently at the high school.

To use our tax dollars wisely. If the expansion must be redesigned, an estimation prepared by the architect shows it will cost the town an additional $2.75 million (lost reimbursement, additional design fees, and escalation costs) to build a smaller facility.

Why should the expansion project include an artificial turf and a track renovation?

Increasing parking at the high school causes a loss in an athletic field.

Installing artificial turf will enable the field to be used more frequently and will reduce maintenance costs.

Presently, the track is in great disrepair.

Not only are the track and field used by high school athletics, but also by the community at large.

In essence, I am requesting your support. Please encourage your spouse, friends, and neighbors to vote on April 22, at the Middle School (6 am to 8 pm). I will be voting Yes for the high school expansion – not because I am a Board of Education member, but because it is an absolutely essential town project.

I would also like to note that the town budget contains the financial resources to support not only the high school expansion project but also the community center/senior center design. It is imperative to support the town budget, the community center/senior center project, and the high school expansion.

Finally, there are important town charter changes to support. The changes:

Enable the town to manage our fund balance which subsequently may raise our bond rating and save our town millions in the future.

Enable the financial director the opportunity to renegotiate bonds for better rates.

Add an additional member to the Board of Education.

Add the ability to place questions on the budget ballot.

The proposed charter changes are posted on the town’s website (www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/index) under “News and Announcements.”

Sincerely,

Kathy Fetchick

Board of Education member

18 Clapboard Ridge Road, Sandy Hook                       April 16, 2008