Board Looks At Exterior Samples For Proposed 5/6 School

By Tanjua Damon

What will the 5/6 school’s exterior look like? Well, the Newtown School Board looked at possible samples Tuesday night of bricks – block style and split face, along with a variety of shingles and colors of window frames – at the meeting to come up with combinations for the exterior of the proposed school for fifth and sixth graders.

No motions or concrete decisions were made, but the board members examined what James LaPosta of Jeter, Cook & Jepson provided for them to consider on how the outside of the 5/6 school could look.

“What we have to share with you tonight is we brought three of the most promising options for exterior finishing,” Mr LaPosta said.

Samples of smooth and textured blocks with earth tone color were presented and left for the board to view at the district office. Mr LaPosta told the board that although a decision did not need to be made now, a decision should be made by the end of the month.

“We are up against a very tight timeline,” he said. “We’re asking you to pick a direction. This is not final, final, but it is pretty close.”

A decision needs to be made on what kind of materials and what combinations of materials will be used. The three options brought to the board were combinations with split face brick and brick. All the options fit into the budget of the project. The board plans to decide on November 28 with the Building and Site Commission.

“They are all within the budget presented last time,” Mr LaPosta said. “We have not put a cost for each one because they all are within the perimeter.”

Mr LaPosta also brought another recommendation for the entrance of the proposed school. The board asked him in October to come up with another design that would be a bit more prominent and give the school more character. He is recommending that the roof of the entrance be dropped a little and have freestanding columns with a small dormer or gable where the seal of the district could possibly be put. This would allow for natural illumination.

The date the plans will go to the State Board of Education has been changed from mid-December to early January. According to Mr LaPosta, the change is needed so the plans are not rushed. He told the board that this does not delay the projected move-in date of January 2003.