After reviewing new information, the Board of Education, during its meeting on October 21, voted to change its previously approved plans for a proposed Newtown High School auditorium renovation.

During its meeting on October 7, the school board voted to request a special appropriation for the project, and authorized the Public Building & Site Commission to have oversight of the renovation.

However, Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, advised the board this week, after sharing that there is a new projected timetable for the renovation, to rescind its vote to give authority on the project to the Public Building & Site and to add the project to the district’s Capital Improvement Plan instead of requesting the special appropriation.

The high school auditorium renovation, which taxpayers already approved for $2.2 million, could cost an additional $1.3 million to address current code and accessibility violations. According to consultant Charles Boos, who spoke before the Board of Finance during its meeting on Friday, September 5, the project could also seek $500,000 or more in state reimbursement if the additional work is completed. The $3.6 million, Dr Erardi told the school board on October 7, represents both the initial scope of the project, and added safety components along with work to make the area compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“I truly believe that everyone wants this to happen and to happen appropriately in the best interest of students at Newtown High School,” said Dr Erardi. “Because the scope has increased, the Public Building & Site Commission will have oversight for the project. That causes some original and initial concern with the projected timeline that we were hoping to accomplish for a mid-June launch to a December 2015 finish to be ready for the holiday season a year from now.”

Referring to the present projected timeline, Board of Education Chair Keith Alexander said, “Based on the likelihood of not being able to complete under that accelerated schedule, it seems like we should seriously consider putting the request onto the [Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)] now for the 2015-16 year and then making our special appropriation at July 1, once those funds are available and bring the whole project starting six months further back but fully funded and without the same sense of urgency.”

The project, Mr Alexander said, would then start approximately in January 2016.

“That opens up that timeframe and allows [PB&S] to have more time to ensure the project is completed on whatever schedule they end up with,” said Mr Alexander.

Contacted about the change in plans, First Selectman Pat Llodra told The Bee that the change in both the scope and proposed project cost gave all parties reason to back away from the initial timeline and essentially start the project approval process from square one.

“The gap between the funding that was approved and the escalated cost to address all the code issues was not going to work with the proposed timing,” Mrs Llodra said. “They weren’t going to make it [complete the work] by the holiday season of 2015.”

The first selectman said at around July 1, 2015, the rescoped auditorium project with all costs and specifics defined will go through the typical review of town boards, and will be reinserted into the CIP.

“Then sometime after July 1, 2015, we’ll do the bonding, and all the preconstruction proposals before proceeding with a construction schedule in January or February 2016,” Mrs Llodra said, adding that the Public Building & Site Commission will become reengaged with the project in the preconstruction phase.

While Dr Erardi said moving the project to the CIP could increase the cost of the project, based on escalation costs typically associated with postponing building projects; he also advised the school board to keep the current projected cost of $3.6 million for the project.

Dr Erardi told the school board the possible $500,000 reimbursement from the state for the project is still possible with the project moved to the CIP.

After deliberating the appropriate way to approve the new plan for the project, the Board of Education voted 6-1, with school board member Michelle Ku voting against, to rescind the October 7 request for the $3.6 million special appropriation. The board then voted unanimously to amend its 2015-16 CIP to include the NHS auditorium project.

Mr Alexander said he expects the Board of Finance to take up the CIP for discussion at its scheduled Thursday, October 23, meeting.