Newtown’s Director of Music and Newtown High School Music Department Chair Michelle Hiscavich presented updates for the high school’s auditorium renovation project to the Board of Education at its meeting on Tuesday, December 15.

“A lot of people have collaborated on this,” said Ms Hiscavich, who brought poster boards with details of the planned auditorium space with her to show the board.

Ms Hiscavich said the group working on the project locally includes Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, Business Director Ron Bienkowski, Facilities Director Gino Faiella, Technology Director Carmella Amodeo, NHS Principal Lorrie Rodrigue, high school music teachers, and NHS auditorium manager Janice Gabriel.

Smith Edwards McCoy Architects of Hartford is the architectural firm for the project, which is being overseen by the Public Building and Site Commission.

“What we have come up with is really exciting to all of us, and it will suit all of the things that we have issues with in our current auditorium,” Ms Hiscavich said.

Soft demolition for the project is expected to begin in March, following the showings of the high school’s musical Beauty and the Beast, which has showings March 17-19 at 7 pm and March 19-20 at 2 pm. Kent McCoy of Smith Edwards McCoy Architects told the Public Building and Site Commission on November 24 construction is expected to commence on July 5.

Ms Hiscavich told the school board this week the new space will have 982 to 990 seats. Sightlines, sound system, lighting, and safety issues will all be improved with the project. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance issues will also be addressed in the renovation, according to Ms Hiscavich. The angle of the floor toward the stage will be less angled, to conform with the act.

Upper box seating and handicapped seating are in the plans along with other accessibility changes.

“One of the things we talked about was how many different things happen in the auditorium,” said Ms Hiscavich. “From concerts to plays, to drama, to community events, to meetings, it’s really the town’s community center at this point.”

The stage will be the same size, but Ms Hiscavich said “barn doors” on the sides of the stage will make a smaller performance area possible when needed, like for black box performances.

The auditorium’s control booth will be on a second level and it will be accessible by stairs and an elevator. The design’s ability to put a floating control booth in the auditorium will help Unified Theater students, according to Ms Hiscavich.

Catwalks and spotlights will be easier to maintain and use with the new design. Ms Hiscavich said the catwalks are only accessible by ladder now, but the new design will feature spiral stairs. The stage will be at the same level of the hallway with the renovation, making moving equipment safer and easier.

“This will all make it very safe,” said Ms Hiscavich.

A storage area/scene shop, which would be built behind the stage’s garage door, is also in the plans for the new space.

“Everything that is addressed is what we need,” Ms Hiscavich said.

For students studying theater, Ms Hiscavich also said the new equipment will be up to date, which will better prepare them for college.

Cost estimates are expected within a week for the design, according to Ms Hiscavich.

Dr Erardi said the team working on the project is “impressive.”

“The architect that was chosen have brought in consultants that are considered some of the best in the country,” said Dr Erardi, adding that the project is in the “excellent hands” of Ms Hiscavich and Mr Faiella.

Financial Report

Business Director Ron Bienkowski also presented his monthly financial report for the board at the meeting.

“We’re continuing with our 25 percent hold on select accounts and those are firm at this point,” said Mr Bienkowski, referring to a hold the board voted to accept in the financial report last month. “It doesn’t look like those are going to be [relaxed] as the year goes on.”

With the main winter months still ahead in the school year, Mr Bienkowski said those months typically require further expenses.

“We’ve had extraordinary needs in the areas of special services that we have to provide for our students this year. That’s what is really putting pressure on the budget,” said Mr Bienkowski, about the 2015-16 spending plan.

Dr Erardi said he plans to meet withNewtown’s state delegates to ask for consideration for professional language to forward to the General Assembly, “that will offer relief to what I believe is an inflated per-pupil expenditure. It has a tremendous baring with the potential reimbursement from the State ofConnecticut. This is around the Department of Justice and Department of Education grants that fall into a very unique space because of our tragedy three years ago, which inflates our per-pupil cost.”

The state’s Special Education Excess Cost Grant reimburses districts for a portion of what is spent on special education services.

Dr Erardi said the amount the district takes responsibility for special education costs is greater than the actual budget, before saying district administration is “moving as expeditiously as we can” to bring the situation to the attention “of those that need to understand our position.”

Board of Education member John Vouros reminded those in attendance that the board has difficulty budgeting for the state’s Excess Cost Grant each year.

Factors that added to the cost situation, Dr Erardi said included a number of students moved into the district that required special programming, a number of “highly anxious youngsters” are unable to attend a full-day of school, and a number of students have been identified for services at the high school.

“When we enter this budget season,” Mr Vouros responded, “it is key for every one of us that component of the budget is there. It is a given that we can’t get anywhere near or touch. People have to understand that is something we are dealing with… We also have to be very cognizant that we are maintaining and enhancing what we have in this district.”

The Board of Education had a moment of silence at the start of its meeting to honor the lives lost roughly three years ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School on 12/14.