East Lyme selectmen support plans to renovate schools
East Lyme — The Board of Selectmen unanimously supported Wednesday a plan to renovate the town's three elementary schools.
The Board of Finance will next review the $37.5 million bonding proposal, as local officials work on a tentative timeline to bring the proposal to referendum in March.
The Board of Education had voted on Jan. 23 to approve the proposal to fix up the town’s three elementary schools with improvements to air quality, handicapped accessibility, security, interior building finishes and electrical, lighting and technology, according to presentations.
The proposal would further entail specific alterations at each of the schools, including the replacement of the roof at Flanders Elementary School; improved drop-off areas at Lillie B. Haynes Elementary School; and window and exterior masonry upgrades at Niantic Center School.
The cost estimates for the project were $35.8 million, but it will come to $37.5 million with interest and the cost of issuing bonds.
On Wednesday, Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Newton said that following a meeting with the state, he has learned there could be as much as $5.4 million in potential state reimbursement.
If approved at a referendum, Newton said the 2017-18 year will involve planning and designing the project and forwarding construction documents to the state.
The project would be scheduled to begin in June 2018 and be completed in fall 2019.
In their review on Wednesday, selectmen asked questions and spoke in favor of the proposal.
Selectwoman Rose Ann Hardy asked if any redistricting would occur prior to completion. She said if it would be possible to keep all children in the schools they currently are in, it would provide less upheaval for them during construction.
Newton said that while it is too early to say, his recommendation would be to wait to start redistricting "until we absolutely know it's the right time to do it."
An ad-hoc redistricting committee is expected to present its recommendation to the school board on Feb. 13.
Selectman Marc Salerno said the proposal addresses all issues he had with previous plans that were under consideration.
He praised a host of components of the plan, including that it takes advantage of new, innovative technology for heating and cooling, adds upgraded security, addresses temperature issues at Flanders Elementary School, opens up an additional gymnasium at Lillie B. Haynes, and provides a safer gymnasium at Niantic Center School.
"This project is prudent," First Selectman Mark Nickerson said. "It's responsible to the taxpayers."
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