Date: Fri 04-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-5/6-school-project

Full Text:

Council Members Worry About Looming Expenses

BY STEVE BIGHAM

There is a growing concern among members of Newtown's Legislative Council that

the town may not be able to afford the capital projects currently under

consideration. They are determined, for now, to hear out the advocates for

each project and then settle on their priorities later.

Several members of the council attended Monday night's meeting of the Board of

Education as architect Rusty Malik unveiled the town's most recent proposed

project: a $25 million fifth- and sixth-grade school on the campus of

Fairfield Hills. The Board of Education has made it clear that there is simply

no more room in existing facilities to accommodate the town's boom in student

growth.

"I didn't think the development would continue at this pace," said

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed. "Newtown's birth rate has not

declined."

"There is no doubt there is a clear need for another school. The only other

option would be double sessions," said Newtown resident Devery Stickles.

While acknowledging the need for a new school, council member Melissa Pilchard

wondered aloud how the town would pay for it.

"If they need another school, they need another school, but if we can't afford

it, we can't afford it," she said.

Council chairman Pierre Rochman said the increasing number of students coming

into the school system cannot be disputed. But with municipal government's

continuing acute need for additional office space and facilities, he said the

council will have to weigh the need and costs for the new school in the

context of the town's overall capital requirements.

"I think we can afford this, but can we also spent $10 to 20 million on the

town side? No, our bond rating would go to hell and our tax rate would go

through the ceiling."

Mr Rochman and fellow councilman Donald Studley expressed concern about the

costs being laid out by Mr Malik, none of which included architectural design

price tags.

"We're just thinking, `my God, we just got done doing all these things...the

schools, the library, the sewers. It's not a negative thing, it's just --

wow," Mr Rochman said.

The cost of the school is at $25 million, but the council chairman believes it

will end up being higher. Operating costs have not yet been calculated for the

new school. "My guess is it would go up. Nothing ever goes down it seems," he

said.

"The town needs something for its municipal space, something for a fire

station, something for police and something for schools," Mrs Pilchard noted.

"What that something turns out to be will be driven by cost."

The state's reimbursement rate has dropped from 40 percent to 34 percent for

school construction projects, meaning the total cost to taxpayers for a new

school would be $17.1 million.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, a former school board chairman, agreed that

the council will have to take a broad view in setting its priorities.

"[The school] is a significant expenditure. It certainly has to go along with

all the other things we have to do. It will have to stand on its merits," he

said. "I'm a supporter of the school system, but we have to look at all the

needs and prioritize,"

The new school would accommodate just over 1,000 students. Dr Reed said the

building is expected to have about 790-800 kids when and if it opens in the

year 2001. That figure is projected to climb to between 1,028 and 1,078 by the

year 2004-2005.

Ridgefield recently turned down a proposal for a fifth- and sixth-grade

school. According to Dr Reed, Ridgefielders opposed a new school more because

of the site than the actual concept of the school.

No Alternative

Council member Joe Borst, calling himself the devil's advocate, wondered what

might happen if the project did not receive the approval of the Legislative

Council and or the voters. "What's the alternative?," he asked.

"There is none," said school board chairman Amy Dent. "There is no other

building to house kids. We would really have to start getting creative I

guess."

Mr Borst sees the need for the new school, but agreed with his fellow council

members. "We have a very full plate. I told Dr Reed that the Board of

Education should be prepared," he said. "What if we decide we can't afford

this or decide we need to do the municipal building first? You can only go to

the well so often." He added, "This is going to be a real hard sell."

Council member Peggy Baiad called the 5/6 school a "perfect solution" to the

overcrowding at the middle and elementary schools. She pointed out that a good

school system is important to everyone, even those who do not have children of

school age.

"People come to Newtown because of its good schools. If they stop coming, it

affects everyone's property values," she said.