East Lyme school board hears presentation on $35 million school plan
East Lyme — The Board of Education heard a presentation Monday on a recent $35.8 million proposal to upgrade the town’s three aging elementary schools that could go to referendum in March.
The project calls for improvements to the schools’ air-conditioning systems, security, Wi-Fi, handicapped accessibility, floors, ceilings, light fixtures, and doors.
If the project is approved, construction would begin in June 2018 and be completed in the fall of 2019, according to Monday's presentation.
Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Newton said school officials are proposing renovations to all three of the town's elementary schools, now that revised enrollment projections for the district's elementary school students are anticipated to be "significantly higher" than previous projections developed in 2014.
The town's elementary schools were built in the 1950s and 1960s and altered in the 1970s.
Newton said building new schools or renovating them "as new" was not fiscally prudent, due to the town's current level of debt service and the state's debt and budgetary issues.
In addition to the across-the-board upgrades, each school will receive specific upgrades, including a reconfigured drop off area at Lillie B. Haynes; window replacement throughout the building and new gym flooring at Niantic Center School; and a new roof at Flanders Elementary School, according to the presentation.
A few alterations are eligible for state reimbursement, said Newton.
Monday's presentation was one of the initial steps in the review process. The boards of education, selectmen and finance are scheduled to meet jointly at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the gymnasium of the Haynes School to review the proposal.
Community presentations are planned for Jan. 17 and Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at the East Lyme High School auditorium.
According to a draft timeline, the school board could vote on the proposal on Jan. 23 and then move it to the Board of Selectmen, and if approved by the selectmen, to the Board of Finance. A referendum on the project could be held in March.
An ad-hoc committee is developing a plan for redistricting the elementary schools, but Newton said more conversations will need to be held about the best time to redistrict.
The ad-hoc committee is expected to submit its findings to the school board in February.
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