Norwich ― Norwich voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an overhaul of city schools by a vote of 5,600-3,660 and proponents now hope the transformation goes well beyond the aging buildings.

The measure will consolidate seven elementary schools into four new schools to be built on the grounds of the John B. Stanton, Moriarty and Uncas schools and the former site of the Greeneville School. The Teachers Memorial Global Studies Magnet Middle School either will be renovated or replaced, and the Samuel Huntington School is slated to become the adult education center and school administrative offices.

On Tuesday, Norwich NAACP youth council members Ibnath Chowdhury, and Cathleen Mai, both 10th graders at Norwich Free Academy, spent four hours of their day off from school holding “vote yes” signs at the Stanton School polling place.

“We’re advocating for what we believe in,” Chowdury said, “for what our organization believes in.”

“This can benefit our community as a whole,” Mai added.

NAACP President Shiela Hayes said youth council members were “so excited” to take a leadership role in promoting the referendum.

“This was an issue they were passionate about,” Hayes said. “Many of them attended Norwich Public Schools and have younger siblings in the schools.”

NAACP adult and youth members are part of the School Equity Committee working to ensure equal access to education for all students. Hayes said that role will continue with the school project, especially with a new Greeneville school. The former Greeneville School in the ethnically diverse neighborhood had lagged behind other city schools in terms of its deteriorating conditions and offerings for students before it was closed and torn down.

“That was part of the excitement with the students,” Hayes said. “They were able to participate with the committee on the groundwork on equity in our schools.”

As poll results signaled approval of the project late Tuesday, School Building Committee Chairman Mark Bettencourt started planning the next steps for the project beginning with a committee meeting Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The city will put out a request for proposals for one or more architects and general contractors for the multi-phase project. Bettencourt already has discussed with state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague the possibility of boosting state reimbursement for the school project. Osten was re-elected Tuesday night.

Although the ballot question asked voters to approve a $385 million bond for the work , the city’s anticipated costs ranges from $97 million to $153 million, depending on state reimbursement.

The city faced spending about $225 million, with no state reimbursement, just to repair the old schools if the vote failed.

Osten said Wednesday she will work with newly-elected Norwich state Rep. Derell Wilson and re-elected Reps. Kevin Ryan and Doug Dubitsky on legislation to raise Norwich’s reimbursement as a distressed municipality.

Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow said she felt “very, very relieved” that the project passed. In her three years in Norwich, Stringfellow faced three emergency boiler failures, various floods and roof leaks and other structural emergencies, with no room in other schools to relocate students if problems could not be fixed immediately.

“I never worked in a district where there could not possibly be a contingency plan, because of lack of space,” she said.

Stringfellow sent a two-page letter to parents and staff Wednesday informing them of the vote and providing an overview and promising regular updates of the project.

Norwich Board of Education Chairman Robert Aldi said he “so elated” voters approved the project by a substantial margin.

“It’s good for the kids, the faculty and the staff,” Aldi said, “and I would argue it’s good for the entire city. Once these schools are built, it’s just going to be an added attraction to the city for families looking to move in, to know that the schools will be up to date, and have structures that will take care of all the needs of all the students.”

The Board of Education has three members on the School Building Committee – Democrat Mark Kulos and Republicans Aaron “Al” Daniels and Christine Distasio, along with Stringfellow and school Business Administrator Robert Sirpenski as ex-officio members.

Aldi said school officials will enlist the expertise of Norwich Public Utilities to ensure the buildings have the highest possible energy efficiencies and will work with city police on school safety measures.

“I am sure there will be two or three liaisons from NPU, as well as from NPD on school safety and the Uncas Health District,” Aldi said. “It’s a huge conglomeration. This is going to be lasting 40, 50, 70 years.”

c.bessette@theday.com