School Board Considers High School

Field Expansion Project

By Tanjua Damon

The Newtown High School sports teams play more away games than school officials would like them to, but because of poor field conditions it is not possible to have a full schedule of home games on the fields.

The Board of Education, Tuesday night, heard about plans designed by Clough, Harbour & Associates to create additional field space at the high school that would once again bring a home field advantage to the high school’s athletic teams. The plans call for eight fields to be created for football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, softball, baseball, and multipurpose fields.

The fields would be placed in the area that is bordered by Berkshire Road, Oakview Road, and Mile Hill Road. There are currently three-and-a-half fields in the area.

“You have to look at what is the need 20 years, 10 years from now,” Wes Marshall of Clough, Harbour & Associates. “And what is best for the town.”

Newtown High School Principal William Manfredonia and Athletic Director Gregg Simon are pleased with the plans and what they will provide for the school and the Park & Rec programs.

“It maximizes the use,” Mr Manfredonia said. “It’s giving us a nice layout. We all agree with this plan.”

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed explained to the board that the fields are desperately needed and that many of the town parks are used to play games.

“It’s kind of like guns or butter. It’s like books or fields,” Dr Reed said. “It is all or nothing. We cannot not proceed with this. I do think we need to find a way to make this work. This may be one of Dominic’s [school building and grounds supervisor Dominic Posca] major projects.”

The Board of Education will conduct a special meeting Thursday, October 18, to discuss the budget that is being prepared by Clough, Harbour as well as to take a vote on the project.

In other board business, the board voted to approve the name change for the former Bruce Jenner Stadium to the Blue & Gold Stadium. If the field expansion project is approved the board has agreed to the area to be named the Harold S. DeGroat and Ann Anderson Sports Complex. Both were instrumental in the sports programs at Newtown High School.

The board also approved the first readings of the following policies: Teacher Evaluation, Police, Immunization, Requirements for School Enrollment, Attendance, Student Health Assessments and Medical Records Procedures, Responsibility for Damage, Administrative Procedures for Administration of Medication by School Personnel, Prohibition on Recommendation for Psychotropic Drugs, and Pesticide Application.