East Lyme school board discusses costs of repairing elementary schools
East Lyme — An updated report estimates it would cost $32 million to complete all of the needed repairs to the town's three elementary schools.
The repairs range from redesigning parking layouts and replacing ceiling tiles to upgrading fire alarm systems and installing air conditioning systems.
In taking another look Monday at the future of the town's elementary schools, the Board of Education made no formal decisions on the schools project, but discussed analyzing the list of repairs and priorities.
The board had previously decided not to file by the June 30, 2016 deadline for state reimbursement for its previous plan to fully renovate the Lillie B. Haynes school and provide some refurbishments to Flanders Elementary School. The board also had planned to delay rebuilding Flanders for five to seven years and close Niantic Center School.
The board has not officially rescinded the motion to move forward with that project, but is expected to discuss doing so at an upcoming meeting.
On Monday, Board member Barbara Senges suggested reframing the school building project as a project to repair the existing buildings, given the state budget issues and uncertainty of reimbursement.
She said a new committee should review the repairs, how long the buildings need to last for, and a ballpark number for how much the town wants to spend.
She noted that doing all the repairs would cost $32 million, which is nearly as much money as the previous project the board deemed too expensive. The cost of the previous project was an estimated $45.06 million overall, or $34.25 million after state reimbursement. That however did not include the cost of rebuilding Flanders School.
Board of Education member John Kleinhans also noted that $32 million was a lot of money and recommended engaging the community in a type of "straw poll" to gauge its preferences.
The board further discussed monitoring enrollment and other factors — for example, if the board would implement universal preschool in the future — that would impact how many schools the district decides to maintain and how long the buildings would need to last.
Chairman Tim Hagen said the board likely would be able to determine a strategic capital investment plan for repairs to the schools and continue to monitor enrollment.
The design steering committee is expected to analyze the list of repairs for the school buildings.
Several members recommended then forming a new building committee as the school board moves forward with its discussions. The board also discussed the importance of holding community forums.
The board said it would resume discussions at the next meeting and map out a course of action.
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