Norwich - Public school and city officials will create a committee to assess the condition and possible future uses of school buildings, deciding at least for now to delay hiring outside consultants to conduct a master plan study for the school system.

The school board's Building and Space Needs Committee met last week to discuss two proposed building assessment studies by a team from the educational agency LEARN and O&G Industries. But the committee decided to reject both the $80,000 and $100,000 options for the study and use city staff to review future school needs.

Board of Education member Cora Lee Boulware, chairwoman of the board's building and space committee, told the full board Tuesday the committee instead will work with city officials to study school space needs. After the meeting, Boulware said at some point in the future, the joint committee might decide it needs outside consultants to assist with the evaluation.

School board members Dennis Slopak and Angelo Yeitz, who is superintendent of streets and parks for the city Public Works Department, will represent the school board, along with Superintendent Abby Dolliver and Business Administrator Athena Nagel.

Board Chairwoman Yvette Jacaruso said working jointly with city officials also will be important in keeping them involved throughout the process of deciding future school needs, rather than presenting a plan and seeking support after it has been written.

City Manager Alan Bergren, who did not attend the school board meeting, agreed with the board's approach to the issue of assessing school space needs and building conditions. Bergren said he holds regular staff meetings with city officials on the city's capital needs and has made comments publicly that school capital needs must be addressed as well.

Bergren said city Public Works Department officials and the city engineer can help assess the condition of various school buildings and infrastructure, while the city planning and community development departments can help provide population trends, demographics and housing development data.

Bergren said some research has been done already for a draft new Comprehensive Plan of Conservation and Development now underway.

"I think we have been amplifying the discussion on school needs since the completion of Kelly Middle School," Bergren said, referring to the $40 million expansion and renovation of that school completed in early 2011.

c.bessette@theday.com

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