Date: Fri 21-Jun-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

schools-project-referendum

Full Text:

School Projects Approved By A Wide Margin

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

In a record turnout for a non-presidential vote, Newtown voters Wednesday

approved the $29 million high school and Hawley School expansion projects by a

substantial margin.

The $24,922,000 high school project was approved 2,160 to 1,595; Hawley

School's addition passed 2,203 to 1,523.

"It's a great day," said Board of Education Chairman Herb Rosenthal as the

outcome of the vote in the Middle School gymnasium became clear after the

polls closed. So many voters arrived during the last hour that voting

continued after the doors were locked at 8 pm.

"I am so relieved," said High School Principal William Manfredonia. "I've been

at this since 1992. This has probably been one of the longest processes I've

been involved in. No we finally can do some long-term planning."

Work on the projects is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the

end of next year.

The turnout of 3,755 voters far surpassed the 2,281 who voted on this year's

$49.6 million town budget and topped last November's 3,223 vote on the $4.1

million Booth library expansion project.

"I've never seen a crowd like this at nearly 8 pm," said former Legislative

Council member Kevin Tepas. "For this kind of turnout on a bad weather day is

highly indicative that we will get a representative vote. It gives people a

feeling that their vote counts."

Machine Vote Needed

"I am disappointed in the (outcome of) the vote but really pleased by the

heavy turnout of people," said David Ruscoe of Steck Drive who led the

petition drive to force the referendum. "It demonstrated that when we have a

project of this magnitude, the town meeting forum isn't the proper place to

decide it. The $3,000 that the town spent for this referendum was well worth

it."

Mr Ruscoe said the results probably reflected the differences in resources

available to those who supported the school projects and those who believed

they were too expensive.

"The PTA and SOS (Save Our Schools) distributed leaflets and called parents to

come out and vote," he said. "They were far more organized. We didn't have

those kinds of resources."

"I'm not an anti-tax nut, but this is a huge amount of money for the town to

commit to spend. In talking to people around town, I learned that there are

many senior citizens and young parents with children who are afraid taxes may

go up to the point that they no longer can afford to live in Newtown."

I think the heavy turnout is the healthiest thing we could have," said

Councilman Joseph McGowan, who had opposed the timing of the projects. "At

least the word got out."

Among the voters were many of the 52 students who were registered in a voter

drive at the high school on June 3 and college students who had just returned

home for summer vacation.

"Enrollment is growing so I think we should expand the school," said high

school senior Mike Czaplicke, 18. "The hallways are always crowded."

Craig Smith of Bridge End Farm Lane, a sophomore at Ithaca College, agreed.

"I'm glad I was home for this referendum," he said. "I think the (expansion

is) needed."

Despite the crowd of observers, the Middle School gymnasium was absolutely

quiet while vote was tallied from each machine. After the last machine was

recorded the stillness was broken by a loud round of applause.

"What an ordeal this has been," Mr Manfredonia said. "Thank goodness - this is

long overdue."

First Selectman Bob Cascella said the petition drive and referendum underlines

the need for the Charter Revision Commission to change the way the town

approves large spending projects. He said the town should adopt a format,

similar to Ridgefield's, in which all major capital projects are decided on

the same ballot as the annual budget.

"What's been happening this year with the library vote, the budget and the

school projects clearly shows that the Charter Revision Commission has to take

a good hard look at our budget process," he said.

Lillian Strickler of Tamarack Road also recommended changes in the charter.

"The school board is the largest employer in Newtown," she said. "This kind of

spending demonstrates that there should be more members on the (six-member)

board, and most importantly the voters must have a choice."

Significant Expansions

The high school project includes the construction of a new 74,000-square-foot

wing, renovations to existing sections of the building, a new roof over part

of the school, and updates to the building's heating, plumbing, air

conditioning and electrical systems. The library/media center, currently

smaller than many elementary school libraries, will nearly triple in size,

sports facilities will be upgraded and parking will be increased to provide

space for more cars and improved traffic flow.

The project will expand the high school facility by 40 percent and its

capacity by 55 percent.

The proposed 22,000-square foot expansion of Hawley School will enlarge the

school by half to accommodate another 150 students and alleviate the need for

a fifth elementary school, according to Dr John Reed, superintendent of

schools.

The Hawley School project was rebid because the lowest bid was $150,000 more

than the $4,183,000 estimate. The new round of bidding still is being

evaluated, but John Torok, the school district's business manager, said the

new low bid appears to be $100,000 lower than the previous total. Besides the

base bid, there are seven alternates that have to be compared and evaluated, a

time-consuming process, he said.

"I figure I've spent 3,000 hours on these projects since 1992," he said.

Most of both projects qualify for 40 percent reimbursement from the state.

According to Town Finance Director Benjamin Spragg the impact of the two

projects on the tax rate will be 1.15 mills in 1996-97, rising to 1.38 mills

in 1998, and decreasing steadily afterwards over the 20-year life of the

bonds. The town already has spent more than $1.5 million on architects' fees,

testing and other expenses related to the projects.

For the owner of a house assessed at $150,000, the tax impact amounts to

$172.50 in 1997 and $207 in 1998, or - as flyers handed out by SOS members

pointed out - "about 57 cents per day."