East Lyme to hold open house for schools project on Saturday
East Lyme — An open house is scheduled for this Saturday to allow community members to visit the district's three elementary schools and learn more about a proposal to renovate them.
The open house will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at Flanders School, Lillie B. Haynes School and Niantic Center School.
The Board of Education said it is inviting community members to visit any or all of the buildings and view plans for the proposed elementary school alteration projects, according to a notice from the school district. There will be information on the proposal, the rationale for the project, the project's schedule and estimated costs, according to the notice.
The proposal, estimated to cost $37.5 million with financing, calls for alterations to the three elementary schools with improved air conditioning, handicapped accessibility, security, lighting, technology and interior building finishes, according to presentations. The plans further include the replacement of the Flanders' roof, the reconfiguration of drop-off areas at Lillie B. Haynes and improvements to the exterior masonry and windows at Niantic Center.
The Board of Finance unanimously approved Wednesday moving forward with the bonding proposal, according to Board of Finance Chairman Camille Alberti.
Alberti said she requested that information about how the bonding proposal would affect the town's mill rate be made available to anyone who is interested at Saturday's open house and also be posted on the school district's website.
First Selectman Mark Nickerson said the proposal next will return to the selectmen, who will discuss scheduling a town meeting on the proposal that would adjourn to a townwide referendum. The tentative dates are March 1 for the town meeting and March 14 for the referendum.
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