Date: Fri 08-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

education-five-year-plan

Full Text:

School Board Anticipates $28 Million In Capital Expenses

BY ANN MARIE COHEN

The Board of Education reviewed its new five-year capital improvement plan for

Newtown's schools Tuesday night. The plan anticipates expenditures of

$27,940,241.

Some of the projects included in the plan are eligible for state grants, most

notably plans for a grade 5/6 school on town-owned land at Fairfield Hills.

With the state money figured in, the net cost to the town for school-related

projects over the next five years drops to $19,694,628.

The total cost of constructing just the 5/6 school is expected to be

$25,810,000 less state reimbursement of 33.9 percent, reducing the town's

expense for the school to $17,564,387. That cost would be spread out over

three years under the capital plan.

Amy Dent, chairman of the Board of Education, stressed that the completion of

the proposed 5/6 school would address impending overcrowding problems at

Newtown Middle School.

As an alternative, spending money to modify the middle school building to

accommodate the expected student population in the next few years would not

address the long-term needs of the school district, she said.

Costs would be incurred to modify the building as well as meet standard

building and fire codes. The school district administration currently housed

in the middle school would have to relocate, and leased space for the

administrators would have to be found, according to Superintendent of Schools

John Reed.

Anticipated expenditures for other schools under the five-year plan were as

follows:

Year One (1999-2000)

It is projected that Sandy Hook School will undergo ceiling and lighting

replacement at a cost of $73,500. Additional parking and drainage work which

costs $45,000, will also be done. Sandy Hook is eligible for state funding on

these projects.

Head O' Meadow School is expected to be renovated and brought into compliance

with building and fire codes. This will cost $834,700 less state reimbursement

of $238,214. The net cost to the town is $551,486. The Head O' Meadow School

parking lot is also slated for repaving at a cost of $80,000.

Middle Gate School is scheduled to have its original roof replaced. Estimated

cost is $400,000, less state reimbursement of $135,600. Net cost to the town

will be $264,400. Funds are set aside to replace the ceiling and lighting.

($65,000).

Also slated for improvement is the Middle Gate parking area. Repavement and

expansion is recommended and will be funded from the operating budget. The

approximate cost is $60,000.

At Newtown Middle School, work will be done to bring the school into fire code

compliance. This will cost $200,000, less state reimbursement of $67,800. The

final cost to the town will be $132,200.

The conversion of the central office and Board of Education space to

classrooms will cost $520,000. This project is to be funded from the operating

budget. Also slated for improvement is the middle school parking area.

General expenses for buildings and grounds is set at $15,000.

Year 2 (2000-2001)

Hawley School will require a sprinkler system in the lower area. Cost of the

system to the town is $175,000 and this is a reimbursable expense.

The proposal provides for additional fields as well as making existing fields

more accessible at both the middle and high schools.

Newtown High School will need to improve its rear athletic field. Projected

cost for this work is $710,000 with a limited reimbursement. The resulting

cost to town is $589,655.

Again, a "building and grounds" expense is set at $15,000 for this year.

Year 3 (2001-2002)

Newtown Middle School will require improvement of its athletic fields. The

price for this is $500,000 with a limited reimbursement, bringing the net cost

to the town to $417,500.

The plan also calls for the expenditure of $300,000 for the renovation of new

space for the district's central office.

And another $15,000 for work on buildings and grounds is anticipated.

Year 4 (2002-2003)

The only capital expense listed for this year is $15,000 for buildings and

grounds.

Year 5 (2003-2004)

Hawley School will receive a new auditorium roof to be funded by schools or

other operating budgets. Anticipated cost is $18,150.

Sandy Hook School will need window replacements. This will cost roughly

$75,000 and will be funded by schools or other operating budgets.

5/6 School Review

The Board of Education has scheduled four more meetings to discuss a 5/6

school:

Sandy Hook School, Thursday, January 14, 7:30 pm in the cafeteria.

Head O'Meadow School, Wednesday, January 20, 7:30 pm in the cafeteria.

Middle Gate School, Wednesday, January 27, 7:30 pm in the gymnasium.

Hawley School, Thursday, February 4, 8 pm in the multi-purpose room in the

original building.