Where The Money Is Going—

High School Expansion Plans Televised

By Kendra Bobowick

Why is Newtown going to spend $47 million on what one official has referred to as “probably the most expensive project” to take place in town, and what are residents going to get for their money? Learn why the Board of Education chose “Option F” — a roughly $47 million proposal to expand and add to the existing high school on Berkshire Road — by watching television.

The Board of Education announced on its website Monday — www.newtown.k12.ct.us — that residents can “tune into NTV-Channel 17 to see a presentation on the Board of Education’s proposed high school expansion plan. The show is currently aired at 10 am and 10 pm each day. In addition, the show will be aired at 7 pm on days in which there are no Newtown High School sporting events being shown.”

Board members hope to inform taxpayers and provide answers to the reasons behind school expansions and costs. Option F is the final in a long series of options that had included ideas for a second high school.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there and we are trying to say here is exactly what we are doing and why,” board member Tom Gissen said. Mr Gissen, Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff, and Project Manager Joe Costa with Fletcher Thompson, the architectural firm working on the expansion plans, are in the televised presentation, which was filmed by high school students who prepared the segment for broadcast.

Slightly less than one hour long, the segment outlines the needs, thought processes, and “basically tells people where we are and how we got here,” Mr Gissen said. Board member Paul Mangiafico touts the segment saying, “It gets into explaining about high school expansions and how and where we are…the main focus outlines where we are going and what [the addition] is designed to do.”

Mr Gissen said, “This is designed as an outreach to the community.” Both he and Mr Mangiafico believe the presentation is necessary.

Despite large turnouts at both meetings and discussions about high school expansion, Mr Mangiafico confessed that even 50 people at a meeting “is just a small percentage” of the thousands of Newtown residents.

“So now it’s on TV,” he said. “You can look at it at your convenience.”

Mr Mangiafico said he “heartily” urges those with questions or a curiosity to view the show and learn about where tax dollars will be going. The high school expansion tops the board’s capital improvement list.

He said, “It is something that [residents] are well advised to take a look at,” he said. “It doesn’t answer everything, but the more people know, the better off they will be.” Education board members opted for airing the expansion plans and background specifically “because we felt there was a needed to consolidate the discussions,” Mr Mangiafico said.

Outgrowing The

Classroom

Mr Mangiafico said that in some instances, lunch periods for example, the students “can hardly move it’s so constrained.” A look at the presentation will display some of the overcrowding, and also detail plot plans for existing and proposed expansions. Unlike reading about or hearing of future plans, watching the program will make a difference, he insists.

“You can see it with your own eyes. It’s one thing to say a ceiling is low and an obstruction, but to physically see brings it to life,” he said.

The televised program is just one way to learn more about Option F expansion plans. Residents may also find information on the Newtown Board of Education’s website where Dr Pitkoff has posted a letter. He writes, “We believe the option chosen, Option F, meets the needs of our growing student population, will maintain our district’s reputation for educational excellence, and will address the warning from the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), the nation’s oldest regional accrediting association. As you may be aware, a key reason our high school was given a warning status was the inadequate space to meet our enrollment needs….”

The school board intends to move the proposal forward through the Board of Finance and the Legislative Council. Dr Pitkoff stated, “We are committed to do everything we can to ensure an efficient review and expedient approval process in order to minimize any time delays that could increase the project cost.”

The estimated gross cost of the approved project would be $43.4 million, with the option to build the new gym for an additional $3.9 million and turfing the stadium for an additional $625,000. The net cost to the town after anticipated state reimbursement would be approximately $33.2 million, based on construction and renovations being completed by August 2009, his letter clarifies.

Also detailed on the website is Option F at a glance. The program’s goals and costs are specified. Square footage and student population projections are also detailed. Site plans for new construction and renovations are also available. The project schedule through August of 2009 is also on the website.