Surprise And Disappointment At Middle Gate Waterline Decision

By Larissa Lytwyn

Board of Education Chairman Elaine McClure expressed surprise at the Legislative Council’s recent 10-0 decision not to approve a $500,000 plan to connect Middle Gate Elementary School to a public water supply during the 2005–06 school year.

At the time of the decision, Legislative Council Chairman Donald Studley noted that there was no explanation from the school board as to why the plan had to be approved that year.

District Business Manager Ron Bienkowski said that the proposal was first approved for inclusion in the district’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) by the school board on February 13, 2001.

“The waterline would be installed in the fifth year, then the 2005–06 school year,” Mr Bienkowski explained.

As water conditions have worsened over the years, however, the board decided to move the project up two years, from a fifth year proposal to one that could definitely be completed by 2006.

“When the plan was originally proposed, we estimated it to cost about $275,000,” said Mr Bienkowski. “As we developed a more detailed understanding of what was needed, combined with inflation considerations, the cost grew to the $500,000,” he explained.

The plan will move back to the Board of Finance agenda during its next meeting November 20. The school board is expected to be present at the meeting.

Hopefully, said Mr Bienkowski, the proposed $500,000 allocation could be “frozen” for a future year so that school board members do not waste the years of accumulated study on the issue.

Coliform has appeared frequently in water at both Middle Gate and Head O’ Meadow schools.

At the November 12 school board meeting, Head O’ Meadow parent Michelle Hankin, speaking on behalf of the school’s PTA, expressed concern about the coliform issue.

Because the most recent water tests at Head O’ Meadow have been clean, the school has gone from bottled to tap water.

District Maintenance Supervisor Dominic Posca explained that once coliform-contaminated water is successfully disinfected, levels are checked monthly for six months than bimonthly thereafter.

When coliform is detected, bottled water is immediately brought in and used for drinking and washing vegetables. Dishes are washed through dishwashing machines that operate with 180-degree temperatures. Hand sanitizers are used in classrooms and restrooms.

Symptoms of coliform infection, said Dr Pitkoff, are typically nausea, stomach upset, and diarrhea. The bacterium passes through the system quickly, he assured. He encouraged Ms Hankin to further research the issue.

Ms McClure suggested Ms Hankin voice her perspectives as a Head O’ Meadow parent to the Board of Finance and Legislative Council.

In addition to addressing the Middle Gate waterline issue, the Board of Finance is expected to address the inclusion of “Fairfield Academy,” a potential alternative high school site on the grounds of Fairfield Hills, on the town’s annually updated CIP plan. The meeting will take place November 20 at 7 pm in Town Hall South.