The School Board held a Special Meeting on Thursday, July 18, 2024, to review recent site plan modifications and clarify which aspects of the 1934 building are included in the $89.9 million “middle ground” bond proposal with Lisa Sawin of Harriman.  In addition, the School Board discussed a July 8 proposal from Town Council Chair Timothy Reiniger to hold a public hearing on an alternative bond total in the amount of $42 million. 

In her presentation, Sawin explained that the plan modifications enhance the functionality and safety of the site, ensuring better separation between different facilities.  Changes to the site plan include: 

• The relocation of one of two basketball courts allows for the repositioning of the land water conservation field further from the 1934 building.
• Modifications to the elementary school service door leading to the kitchen will ensure that deliveries can be made without needing to pass through the building.
• The land water conservation field has been moved further from the 1934 building, creating a larger buffer zone.

In relation to the 1934 building, the $89.9 million project includes several actions:

• System Disconnection - The existing systems, currently served from the middle school into the 1934 building, will be disconnected.
• Middle School Building Removal - The middle school building will be removed, effectively disconnecting it from the 1934 building.
• Infill and Waterproofing - Areas, where disconnections occur, will be infilled and made watertight to preserve the integrity of the 1934 building.

These measures ensure that the 1934 building is structurally sound and ready for any future use that may be decided upon.

Additionally, responding to interest from the Town Council, Sawin provided an example of a conceivable parking configuration that could provide 72 spaces—a configuration that offers more capacity than is available in the current site. Should future needs or projects require it, the example illustrates that it is possible to accommodate a significant number of parking spaces adjacent to the 1934 building.

Following Sawin’s presentation, the School Board voted 6-0 to NOT support Chair Reiniger’s proposed $42 million bond.  School Board Vice Chair Philip Saucier said, “One of my biggest challenges is that there is no project for us to consider. I am particularly concerned that it [$42M proposal] didn’t go through any process. I know that it’s very important for the board to have a lot of open and transparent processes. We do everything in the open. We’ve had SBAC; we have joint committees and joint meetings. I have no idea where this came from, and more importantly, the community hasn’t participated in it.”

Lastly, wishing to clarify the board’s intent with the 1934 building, the School Board voted 6-0 to return the 1930s building to the Town.  Chair Elizabeth Scifres said, “Let the community and town council decide what to do with the building.”  In addition, Saucier added that he prefers that the middle ground project not include any additional funding to repurpose the 1930s building within the $89.9 million middle ground project.

On Monday, July 29, at 7:00 p.m., the Town Council will hold two public hearings on the School Board's $89.9 million “Middle Ground School Project Design” and the Town Council’s proposed $42 million bond.

School Board member Caitlin Sweet was absent from the meeting.