School Bd Continues

NHS Expansion Debate

By Susan Coney

On Tuesday, February 14, Board of Education members as well as numerous residents forfeited their chance for a romantic Valentine’s Day evening to attend the scheduled board meeting, which continued to dwell on possible solutions to the overcrowded conditions at the high school.

The meeting opened with a public participation session, inviting residents to comment on how the board should handle the high school space needs.

Joe Borst, resident and member of the Legislative Council, asked for more specific information about the newest plan, known as the fifth option, which proposes a separate 88,000-square-foot freshman building.

PTA spokesman Kathy Fetchik told the board that the PTA was not satisfied with the four proposed options, noting that many of the options represented a short-term plan. She stressed the need to study only long-range solutions saying, “The lesson may be that it is worth short-term growing pains if it is for the long-term goal.”

Resident Ruby Johnson urged the board to seek a long-range plan for the overcrowding. “Keep your eyes way down the road; educationally sound, affordable, and expandable. Please don’t be shortsighted,” she said.

Legislative council member and past interim principal Pat Llodra observed that Newtown High School is the 16th largest high school in the state. She stressed the need to look at facts that confirm that large high schools provide fewer opportunities for students to compete in sports, activities, and even in academics.

Resident Gary Davis suggested that the school board bring other town governing bodies into the decisionmaking process. He said, “We need to get everyone on the same page. Make other boards part of the process. The sooner we get more people engaged in rolling up their sleeves and figuring the real costs then we can start the process.”

Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff stated that some school officials had met with architects to discuss the possible option of an 88,000-square-foot freshman building. He admitted that he probably should have included it as a fifth option in the packet of information provide at the public forum held on Monday, February 5. “At the time I didn’t have all the numbers for the cost for a larger facility for the public meeting. It fell off the chart and we should have put it on considering all of the hubbub it’s created. The reality is that we didn’t put out information that we didn’t quite have yet.”

Dr Pitkoff revealed that he met with architects February 6 to get more clarification about the 88,000-square-foot option. The superintendent sought comments from David Wedge, who works at the Connecticut State Department of Education Division of Grants. Mr Wedge is in charge of the Schools Facilities Unit and provided some vital information to Dr Pitkoff.

Mr Wedge informed the superintendent that to receive state reimbursement for an 88,000-square-foot freshman house the building would have to be an entirely separate entity from the existing high school. Dr Pitkoff explained, “The building would have to be functionally on it’s own, with it’s own heating system, cafeteria, auditorium and gymnasium. It would have its own principal and administrators and would need to be listed in the state directory as a separate school.”

The estimated cost for the project would be $42.4 million and would provide a capacity to handle 500 students. In addition to those stipulations, no renovations that would receive state reimbursement could be done to improve the existing high school.

Dr Pitkoff reported that with further research he learned that the 66,000-square-foot freshman house option is feasible. He said the architects anticipated that it would be an L-shaped structure tucked in alongside the gym. With this option, parking would need to be relocated to the tennis court area and those in turn would take away one practice field.

The superintendent said that this plan would be less expensive, costing between $35 and $36 million and could house 500 freshman. “You really have a capacity for 1,600 at the existing high school and 500 at the freshman house for a total capacity of 2,100 students,” Dr Pitkoff said.

The architects believe that there would be growth potential with this option so that additional classrooms could be added at a later time, according to the superintendent. He said that because the freshman house would be in an unobtrusive place it would not interfere with the students’ school day and construction would take approximately 24 months.

Board member Paul Mangiafico asked the superintendent if he believed there was a chance the board could achieve the June 30 deadline to file an application with the state for the project. Dr Pitkoff replied, “I believe we can make the June 30 deadline and provide the educational specifications necessary. I don’t know if the other bodies in town can do it.”

Mr Mangiafico responded by pointing out that officials of other town groups such as the Board of Finance and the Legislative Council need time to review the project.

Fellow board member Andrew Buzzi agreed with Mr Mangiafico, stating that the school board needs to make a recommendation soon. Board member David Nanavaty added, “If this board has any chance of moving this project along we have to make a decision tonight if we are serious about getting done by June 30. Are we going to expand on site or build at Fairfield Hills?” He continued, “We really need to get the other boards on board here to see if June 30 is doable. It seems to me we invited them to the public meeting but we’ve got to get them involved here. I’m hearing the other boards don’t think June 30 is realistic.”

Chairman Elaine McClure responded, “I would like to meet with the Legislative Council and the Board of Finance next week to see how they want to proceed.” She suggested a special board meeting be held next week.

Mr Mangiafico was against approaching the other boards until they themselves are more prepared. “Let’s not rush the decision because of a June 30 deadline, which may or may not be achievable. The overriding theme I hear from the public is don’t rush the job, do the thing that is good for the long hall. Whatever it takes one, two, or three more meetings, I think we should devote the time to it.”

Board member Lisa Schwartz noted, “I haven’t heard a specific number of acres we are entitled to at Fairfield Hills. How much acreage is there for us?”

Mr Buzzi suggested with the number of unanswered questions posed at the meeting the school board should hold off making any decision that night. “We need to list our questions, gather information, and be ready to discuss and come up with a decision by our next meeting,” he said.

Mr Nanavaty observed, “I don’t see any direction coming from this board. We need to provide a sense of direction or we are just spinning our wheels. I don’t think we’ll have sufficient answers by next week.”

Mr Mangiafico agreed, asking that chairman McClure send a letter to the Fairfield Hills Authority to ask what land is allowed at Fairfield Hills for an expansion, satellite, or new high school. “I think we need to ask that question,” he stressed. In addition, he requested that the superintendent provide for the next school board meeting, scheduled for March 7, a large spreadsheet with more detailed information of current costs for each option, its capacity, flexibility for the future, as well as pros and cons for each option.

Mr Buzzi closed the meeting saying, “Be prepared to come back and be ready to discuss these options at the next meeting.”