Council Passes $85 Million Project on to Referendum

The Southington Town Council Tuesday night approved a motion sending the middle school project to referendum in November, seeking approval for bonding that will allow for renovation of the DePaolo and Kennedy middle schools.

At Issue
Earlier this month, the Board of Finance cut a $100 million proposal by the Board of Education to renovate-as-new the town’s two middle schools by 15 percent. The motion sent early conceptual plans back to the drawing board before the Board of Education could approve a master budget to submit to the Town Council.

The Board of Education approved that budget of $85 million on July 19, adjusting plans to eliminate several sections of new construction that would affect the physical education department and a room within the music department that would have been used for musical instruction with keyboards.

“Through the Board of Education, with recommendation of (architect) Fletcher Thompson, this plan eliminates the physical education addition to house occupational and physical therapy training for youngsters and additional classrooms,” said School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. “It also reduced specifications for literary classrooms, but did not eliminate the classrooms themselves.”

What's Next
With the latest approval, the Board of Education will be charged with approving a final set of specifications before the item is added to the referendum in November. The vote will take place at the Aug. 18 meeting.

Changes in the project have also led officials to end negotiations for land acquisition along Werking Street. The town is still in negotiations for land along South main Street with an estimated cost of $400,000.

Once added to the referendum, it will be up to Southington’s voters whether to approve the bonding for the project.

‘Speaking’ of...
“I’m here to reiterate my desire to know how long negotiations been going on with neighbors. As employee of local site-work company, there has got to be some idea of what’s going to happen. We still have a lot of questions out there and abutting property owners will be directly affected. A lot of people are concerned.” – Christopher Stack, resident of 1033 S. Main St.

“I am concerned about the parking lot. I want to make sure it’s done right…I also have kids, one at Kennedy and one at South End with new baby on the way, so yes I do want it to go through. It will help the kids, help the parents and help the teachers do better job – we just want it done right. Don’t be cheap, do it right because for the next 25-30 years this is what we will have and what is done cheap today will cost us tomorrow. Do it now, do it right and do it quick because don’t know what to come in future.” – Steve Fortin, 16 Werking St.

“I am a mother of four - three who have completed their education. My last son is going through the system now. I first heard plans for middle schools when my oldest was starting. Twenty years later, I’m standing here asking you to please pass this through,” – Kathleen Rickard, Board of Education member.