Newtown’s Historical Failure To Plan

To the Editor:

Newtown has a long history of being unable to plan ahead. In 1950, we placed kindergarteners and first graders in the St Rose Church Hall. Double sessions, then triple sessions at what is now the middle school ran from 1967 until the Route 34 high school opened in 1971. Portables were erected at Sandy Hook, Hawley, Middle Gate, middle school in 1974 and used until Head O’ Meadow opened in 1977.

School projection enrollment in 1998 showed the impending overcrowding of the high school, and funds were requested to convert the shop area into classrooms to increase school capacity to 1,600, but it took three years to gain approval to spend $400,000 to convert the area into four classrooms.

Here we are again. Portable classroom at the high school for 2009 and longer if the town does not move forward with the high school expansion now. If we rebid the contract will the cost be lower? No one really knows anymore than we know what the stock market will do tomorrow or what construction costs will be in six months.

If we delay any parts of the project, will the final cost be less? Again, that, too, is a gamble. If not this year, will we ever expand the gym?

One positive event has occurred. With a 9-3 vote, the Legislative Council is allowing voters to take part in the decisionmaking process. In contrast, voters were not consulted or allowed to vote on the $10 million plus expenditure for a new town hall. Next Tuesday, October 7, voters will be allowed to vote for or against the high school expansion in a townwide referendum. Your vote is important to restore democracy to Newtown and to avoid prolonged use of portable classrooms. I have weighed the choices and have decided that, considering all the circumstances, a Yes for the high school expansion is the best course of action.

Vote your conscious, but be sure to vote.

Ruby Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                         October 1, 2008