State Ruling Will Mean Reimbursement For NHS Athletic Fields

By Tanjua Damon

When the high school renovation project was getting too close to going over budget, the planned expansion of the athletic fields was jettisoned to save money. But now the project is back on the table and the State Department of Education will still consider it part of the initial high school project.

The school district initially submitted renovation plans of the high school in 1994 that include expanding the fields. Currently the project costs are approximately $26.3 million, according to Ronald Bienkowski, director of business. The project has not been accepted as complete by the school district or the Building and Site Commission. There are three and a half fields now and the district hopes to create eight with the expansion.

Mr Bienkowski presented the school board with a letter Tuesday night, from the State Department of Education, notifying the district that since the scope of the project does not exceed the $27.9 million that was designated by the legislature in 1997 for revisions, the field expansion can be included as part of the original high school project. The cost of expanding the existing athletic facilities is estimated between $600,000 and $800,000.

There is an opportunity for the district to receive some state reimbursement since the athletic field project is still a component of the larger high school project, and there are issues with Title IX and with field access under the American Disabilities Act that have to be addressed. The state does note in its letter to Mr Bienkowski that the final project data be submitted prior to December 31, 2002.

In other board business, the members received presentations about the photography curriculum that has been revised to add the use of digital cameras. The curriculum was initially approved in 1995.

The board also received a pamphlet that will be included with the new progress reports that are being introduced this year to elementary school parents. The brochure gives parents information on how to understand the new setup. Parents will get their first taste of the new reports in November during parent/teacher conferences.

Supervisor of Building and Grounds Dominic Posca presented the school board with a report of all the projects that have been completed over the summer. Four schools – Hawley, Head O’ Meadow, Middle Gate, and Newtown Middle School – all had paving done that added spaces to the parking lots. There were kitchen renovations at three elementary schools. Mr Posca told the board it was a busy summer for the department.

The Newtown Board of Education meets on the first (workshop meeting) and second (business meeting) Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at Canaan House at Fairfield Hills. The board will meet Tuesday, September 11, for its business meeting.