Date: Fri 01-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

school-addition-capital-

Full Text:

Group Forms To Support School Projects

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The Newtown Chamber of Commerce had scheduled an informational meeting on two

school additions this past Monday, but was forced to cancel the event due to a

lack of community interest. However, a group has formed to not only genenrate

local interest in the $30-plus million projects, but to gain support for them,

as well.

Support Our Schools (SOS), a political action group, is up and running with

one goal in mind Á to work toward the approval of the renovations and

additions at Newtown High School and Hawley School.

"The reason the group was formed was because the projects are going to cost

lot of money. We feel the need is justified and think it's important that

people know why this is justified," explained SOS president Jack Ryan.

SOS believes the addition plan is an easy sell, pointing to the overcrowded

conditions now facing Newtown's schools. The high school has become so cramped

in recent years that its accreditation is in jeopardy, school officials say.

In a newsletter distributed last week, SOS explained that NHS has reached its

capacity as used and is expecting a 40 percent increase in students over the

next nine years, from a current enrollment of 1,080 to 1,519.

The quality and reputation of a town's education system is a determining

factor in property and resale values, the letter states.

It went on to state that overlapping or even double sessions, loss of valued

programs, higher class sizes, existence of below-standard facilities, are all

reflected in the value of property and quality of life.

"We're not asking the town to build a Taj Mahal or add in any new programs,

we're just trying to hang onto the bare minimum," Mr Ryan said.

SOS plans to educate taxpayers by distributing accurate information. For

example, Mr Ryan explained that his group will figure out the net cost of the

project (minus the money reimbursed by the state), then determine how much the

school addition plan will cost each homeowner.

Cost estimates cannot be completed until after the projects go out to bid.

So far, there has been hardly any opposition to the school district's addition

plan. Some believe suggest that the lack of opposition is because residents

see the schools bulging at the seams and realize the projects are unavoidable,

but others think this is the calm before the storm and that it is just a

matter of time before Newtown's taxpayers start grumbling.

Chamber of Commerce President Mike Snyder had predicted there would have been

a big response his organization's meeting, which was supposed to take place at

the Sandy Hook Firehouse. SOS had requested the Chamber organize the meeting.

"This is going to affect everyone's taxes. There may not be any community

interest until people find out how much their taxes are going to go up," he

explained.

Mr Snyder sees Newtown as apathetic on most issues with people speaking out

only at the 11th hour.

"When it finally goes to vote, they'll yell and scream that it's too much," he

predicted.

It looks like SOS will have plenty of time to spread the word. According to

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed, said a problem with the current septic

system at NHS could delay a townwide vote the project until next fall.