School, Finance Boards Delay

Final CIP Decision Pending New Air Tests

By John Voket

Heightened levels of carbon dioxide at the Middle School are not a health hazard. And even at almost double the highest level recorded in the school earlier this month, an air quality expert who came to answer questions before the Board of Finance this week said the results might only potentially impact a person’s attention and performance.

The extended discussion on school air quality, and its likely ties to how the local school board will prioritize future capital HVAC projects, was germane to the finance board’s overall agenda of reviewing and understanding the district’s capital requests over the next five years. And the district came armed with up-to-the-minute information and a request for a little more time to set their capital priorities based on more comprehensive air testing that is ongoing now.

School board Chair Lillian Bittman said even the most recent carbon dioxide levels at the middle school were low compared to an “industrial standard,” and that Brooks Environmental Consulting of Norwalk has been ordered to expand the scope of testing to show real-time patterns of CO2 over several days versus an “apples-to-apples” comparison of snapshot results taken to mirror a 2001 air quality test that also showed heightened, but not dangerous, levels of carbon dioxide in several schools — the highest being the middle school.

Ms Bittman said that before the newest air test results, her board was sticking to its prioritizing of the Hawley School HVAC renovation ahead of a similar but substantially larger project at the middle school. The school board subsequently met and decided to hold any final decision on CIP priorities until after all new test results are in, which would be before the finance board’s first scheduled meeting in February.

In the meantime, School Facilities Director Gino Faiella plans to reprogram air exchange fans at the middle school to operate during the time students and teachers are in the building. While that procedure could help further mitigate CO2buildup in certain areas, it will also force the school to use more energy to heat the colder winter air that will flow through the system from outside.

Brooks consultant Mark Granville told the finance board that mechanical adjustment should “make a difference” in standing CO2 levels. Finance board member Joe Kearney said he would be even more comfortable if he had comparative figures on CO2levels from other districts to compare, versus the snapshot results currently available for Newtown’s schools.

“We seem to be well within the actionable limits [of CO2],” Mr Kearney observed. “But I guess it would give more meaning to the numbers if our [CO2] levels were half of what was normal in Danbury schools.”

In an attempt to best clarify what the current highest levels mean in terms of affecting students and personnel, finance board Chairman John Kortze asked to define how the ranges of readings were achieved. After explaining the methodology of air testing, Mr Granville said, “If it’s at about 2,000 [parts per million CO2], and nobody is complaining, you don’t have an air quality problem.”

‘What Scares Superintendents?’

Mr Kortze then asked Superintendent Janet Robinson to define “what scares school superintendents the most?” Dr Robinson was quick to reply, “Old boilers.”

“If a boiler goes out, you’re going to shut that school down,” she added.

This transitioned the discussion into a brief presentation on how the district hopes to reconfigure the Hawley School heating and air handling system to maximize economy and efficiency. The school board then spoke to a piece of new business, a request for a special appropriation of $45,000 to cover an engineering study on a proposed middle school roof replacement.

Dr Robinson confirmed that such an advanced study incorporating the elaborate network of infrastructure and equipment involved, and factoring in all the extra work needed to accommodate a new school building code standard for repitching the school roof is required as a condition for state financial reimbursement consideration.

Mr Kortze told the board that the special appropriation would be repaid to the town out of the subsequent bonding for the overall roofing project.

Mr Kearney questioned why the town cannot achieve the information through roofing company bids, instead of paying extra for a separate study. He was told that most roofing companies do not have architects on staff to generate the level of detail the state would require to consider any reimbursement on the project.

The motion to approve that special appropriation was subsequently approved unanimously.

Shooting For AAA

The finance board also heard from its bond consultant Barry Bernabe, who is preparing to present to Standard & Poor’s rating agency in the hope of achieving a higher bond rating for the town. This marks a departure from Newtown solely seeking a bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service, which currently ranks Newtown with a AA2 rating.

“My goal is to get a triple-A,” Mr Bernabe said, referring to the highest municipal bond rating available. Obtaining such a rating, or even an increase to AA1 through S&P, could entitle Newtown to borrow for capital projects at a markedly lower interest rate than the historic lows it already pays on much of its existing debt service.

Mr Bernabe said the town has meticulously put financial management policies and practices in place in response to recommendations outlined by Moody’s over several years, but was removed from a “positive outlook” for a rating increase last year.

The bond consultant said that the single remaining barrier to virtually ensuring a rating increase would involve the complete weaning of the town off the practice of offsetting tax increases by tapping into savings, in the form of a fund balance. While Newtown has already reduced its dependence on the practice from $3 million to $2 million between 2008 and 2010, Finance Director Robert Tait said he might be able to get the town down below $1 million and possibly to zero by the next fiscal year beginning in July 2011.

“Shooting for zero would really impress the ratings agencies,” Mr Bernabe said. The town plans to make its presentation to S&P January 29, and it is generally a few weeks before a rating decision is returned.