Board Of Education Hears Update

On High School Expansion

By Martha Coville

On November 8, the Board of Education heard an update on the high school expansion plan from the architectural firm Fletcher Thompson, but declined to approve any changes at that time. They also discussed the controversy over the $32 million capital improvement plan (CIP) submitted for proposed expansion of the middle school, stemming from the October 25 Board of Finance Meeting.

Fletcher Thompson architect Joe Costa presented several revisions to the original high school expansion plan. “The general concept hasn’t changed,” he said, “but the spaces have been refined.” He continued to say that the project remains on budget, even with the requested inclusion of several new spaces. The cost of these additions, and the expansion of lightening protection to include the whole building, not just the new addition, would be offset he said, by the use of “cost-effective engineering.”

 “The big news,” Mr Costa said, “is about the site.” The traffic entrances and exits originally planned for the expanded high school would not be cost effective to build, he explained, and do not conform to the standards set by the State Department of Transportation. He presented an alternative plan for traffic flow, and the board agreed that further discussion was necessary before approving any changes to the expansion plan.

In other business, school district Business Manager Ronald Bienkowski reported that he had secured an excellent price on natural gas to heat Reed Intermediate School, which was constructed with dual fuel capability. Reed School is the newest school in the district, and the only one both equipped to burn gas and oil and connected to a gas line. Mr Bienkowski locked into a contract with Yankee Gas to supply natural gas to the Reed School for the equivalent fuel oil price of $1.87 per gallon, including service. The district does not lock in prices for the fuel oil used to heat its six other schools.

The Board of Education also voted unanimously to purchase the Connect-Ed Service, which automatically dials a list of phone numbers and plays a prerecorded message. The board explained Connect-Ed could be used to call every parent in the district to notify them of a snow day or a delayed opening, and that service would also be invaluable during emergencies. When Newtown High School Interim Principle Jay Smith said such tool would have been helpful during the recent MRSA scare, Mr Bienkowski pointed out that it also would have been cost-effective. Sending out a mailing to district parents costs about $800 in postage he said, while the Connect-Ed service costs only $1,300 and will pay for itself quickly. “Connect-Ed will truly change communication in the district for the better,” he said.

The board also discussed the implications of new state legislation regarding the seclusion or restraint of special education students. Every special education student has, by law, a student’s individual educational program (IEP), created by the student, the student’s parents, and school officials. Previous law allowed for the seclusion or restraint of a student only if his IEP allowed it, in effect requiring parental permission.

The new legislation also requires that schools notify parents if physical restraints have been used, and requires that every Board of Education have a policy regarding restraint and seclusion. The board members examined a draft of such a policy, selected by Director of Pupil Services Micheal Regan. They will examine it again and vote on it at their next meeting. Although the policy governs the use of “restraining devices,” Superintendent of Schools Thomas Jokubaitis assured the board that the district does not possess or use such devices.