Date: Fri 09-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

5/6-school-council

Full Text:

Council Delays Decision On 5/6 School Plan

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Legislative Council Wednesday indicated its support "in concept" of a

proposed $25.8 million 5/6 school and would likely approve the hiring of an

architect to get the ball rolling.

However, council members made it clear they won't "sign on the dotted line" on

an actual site for the school until the town decides whether or not it wants

to buy Fairfield Hills. The 186-acres core campus of the former state mental

health hospital is currently for sale by the state. Several private developers

have expressed interest, but the town will ultimately have the right-of-first

refusal on the land.

This week's council consensus on the 5/6 school "concept" satisfies a need for

the Board of Education, for now. But Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed

will need some answers soon. An architect needs to be hired so that plans can

move forward. Any delays could jeopardize the planned September 2001 opening

of the school.

The Board of Education has been eyeing the 22-acre parcel adjacent to

Watertown Hall as a site for nearly a year. Architect Rusty Malek of Kaestle

Boos Architects has already put together preliminary drawings for a school

there.

But council member Karen Blawie does not want to see a new school going up 100

yards from where the town is spending millions to tear down all those old

buildings.

"I'm in favor of the concept, but I'm not prepared to sign on the dotted line

to put the shovel in the ground before Fairfield Hills is decided," she said.

"The school is a multi-million decision and so is municipal space."

Dr Reed made it clear this week that none of the buildings at Fairfield Hills

are suitable for a school.

"If someone seriously thinks that one of those buildings should be used for a

school, I just don't see it," he said. "I don't think the state is into seeing

four-story schools go up."

The one building that might be suitable is Cochran House, which the

superintendent figured had a 1:40 chance of becoming a school.

"We need to know where we're going," he told the council. "We need people to

know where we all stand on this together."

The town is not expected to make any decisions on the purchase of Fairfield

Hills until late summer -- at the earliest. Prospective developers are

required to submit their proposals by June 14 with a joint decision by the

state and town coming in July. However, delays in an environmental study may

push those dates back, further jeopardizing any swift action on a 5/6 school

Once a decision is made on a prospective buyer for Fairfield Hills, the town

will be given a price. It will then have 105 days to make a decision.

A Threat Of Portables

According to Board of Education Chair Amy Dent, the school must be open by

2001 in order to avoid having to put up portable classrooms at three schools.

The middle school and elementary schools are currently at capacity and beyond.

Adding to the problem, nearly 240 additional students are expected to squeeze

into the school system next year. The new school would draw away 400 students

from the middle school and 400 from the elementary schools.

"For every year construction is delayed it will cost a million dollars," Dr

Reed added.

But, as council members point out, the loss in money for waiting is tiny

compared to the possible waste of building a school on what could be the wrong

site.

Parent Richard Huggins of 5 Frontage Road disagrees. He believes the issue of

Fairfield Hills is another story altogether.

"We need a 5/6 school. Let's hire an architect now," he said. "If you put it

off it will delay the school opening."

The discussion prompted council chairman Pierre Rochman to poll his fellow

board members.

"Should we be looking at a 5/6 school now and let the chips fall as they may

with the other things or should we hold off on a school now?" he asked.

The council said the answer lay somewhere in the middle. At its next meeting,

it will likely approve money to allow an architect to begin preliminary

drawings that are not necessarily site-specific.

The Board of Education discovered Wednesday that its favored 22 acre site is

not zoned for a school. It may need to receive a special exception from the

Planning & Zoning Commission.

Bill Brimmer, chairman of the municipal space needs committee, said his board

never considered Fairfield Hills as a site for a new town office or school.

"It was brought up a couple of times, but the Fairfield Hills advisory

committee had recommended against buying it, so we didn't consider it," he

said.

The council's finance committee is expected to take up the 5/6 school at its

next meeting later this month.