MONROE, CT — Superintendent Joseph Kobza and Board of Education Chairman David Ferris will send First Selectman Terry Rooney a letter formally asking for the town to turn ownership of the Chalk Hill building back over to the school district, so it may be considered as part of a facilities plan to accommodate space needs amid growing student enrollment in Monroe’s public schools.
In addition to authorizing Kobza and Ferris to draft the letter in a special meeting vote on July 28, the school board also unanimously expressed its support for the Ad Hoc Facilities Committee’s recommendation for Option B, a proposal that includes reopening Chalk Hill as a grade five and six school.
If the building is returned to the school district, board members will also seek to hire a structural engineer to determine whether a third floor could be added to Chalk Hill.
Ferris said a third floor could be used for central office and a therapeutic day program, but the district will not know if that’s possible without a structural engineer.
On Monday, he told The Sun it is possible the district could save money on outplacements and transportation with a successful therapeutic day program, and bringing in some kids from other districts could produce a revenue stream that would cover significant operational costs for Chalk Hill.
The town discontinued using Chalk Hill as a school in June of 2011 and it was temporarily used by Sandy Hook Elementary School following the tragic shooting at its building on December 14, 2012. Ferris said the building has asbestos and there may be mold. The septic system will also have to be replaced.
During the July 28 meeting, Ferris said it is up to Rooney to decide whether or not to recommend turning Chalk Hill over to the school district and, if he decides to, he would have to bring it before the Town Council for a vote.
“I believe he would,” Ferris said. “We have had preliminary conversations.”
If the school district gets the building back, after determining whether or not Chalk Hill is structurally sound enough to handle a third floor, the school board would ask for support from town officials and voters to pursue and fund Option B.
Option B calls for bringing Chalk Hill back as a school for grades 5 and 6, keeping Monroe Elementary school as a pre-K through grade 4 school, and making both Stepney and Fawn Hollow grades K-4 elementary schools.
The Board of Education’s Ad Hoc Facilities Committee, which included public and education officials and parent representatives from throughout the community, had hired Silver Petrucelli & Associates to conduct feasibility studies and come up with several scenarios for increasing class space and upgrading school facilities.
The committee also listened to public input at meetings and considered feedback from a survey that went out to parents, other town residents and staff.
The committee had unanimously voted to recommend Option B to the Board of Education, which did the same on July 28.
Even if all approvals are attained in a timely manner, construction could not begin until 2029, according to Kobza.
A long range plan
Ferris said the Ad Hoc Facilities Committee still have some more work to do.
“The committee will have another meeting to discuss recommendations and plans for the renovations,” Ferris said of needed upgrades at the town’s three elementary schools and campuses throughout the district.
“We understand there will have to be a long range plan, because right now there is no plan on building replacements,” he said.
Ferris said Monroe recently had building projects for the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service and the animal shelter, so he said the school board must consider that while working with the town on a phasing plan.
In the meantime, portable classrooms will be needed at Fawn Hollow Elementary School. Kobza told the school board he does not see any way to avoid this.
Kobza said a portable classroom costs around $1.2 million and a special appropriation would be needed to fund a purchase.
Because there is no available land in town suitable for a new school, Ferris said once the elementary schools are being worked on, it will be a challenge to move students’ classes off site during construction. He said the St. Jude school building is too small, even for Monroe Elementary School.
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$1.2 M for “a” portable classroom? Or is that 5+ NEW buildings? I just did a little bit of research and NEW multi classroom buildings, are neighborhood of $200k (upper end), and used (considerably less)
I don’t know about others, but I know my 10% property tax increase makes me want the BOE to think frugally about how to address the space needs, and look at used and rental options, not just new portables!