Planning Commission Give Go-Ahead on Middle School Project

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve an 8-24 referral Tuesday evening for the $100.1 million renovate-as-new project at the DePaolo and Kennedy middle schools.

The 6-1 vote, with Commissioner Francis Kenefick voting in opposition, came after some criticism regarding costs and spending but provides the town with an opinion from the commission that the project conforms to the town’s plan of development and zoning regulations.

At Issue

The Board of Education voted unanimously last month to move forward with a $100.1 million proposed master control budget to renovate-as-new both middle schools. The project would allow for the expansion of the schools to approximately 143,000 square feet each.

The schools were built in 1963 and 1967 said Joseph G. Costa, principal of Fletcher Thompson, the architecture firm designed to conduct the town’s middle school feasibility study and design the renovations. The proposal would leave the town responsible for approximately $49.9 million in costs to be paid through bonding, while the state would pick up the remainder of the cost.

Although costs remain a concern, members of the commission were charged with looking at the project only from a planning perspective.

What's Next

The Board of Finance continues to seek comments and concerns from residents as they review the projected costs and specifications of the project.

Members were concerned last week that while necessary, the project comes at an exceptional cost and it could lead voters to elect against taking out such a large bond on the referendum. Members will vote on whether to approve the proposal and send it back to the council to determine whether it should be placed in a November referendum on July 6.

‘Speaking’ of...

“My only concern, and it’s something that needs to be addressed by other boards, is what is that final number going to be. While we are not the ones to look at that, when we approve something conceptually in this range, if all of a sudden the facts change dramatically, we should have a second bit at that apple before it goes any further.” –Commissioner Zaya Oshana

“When it comes to spending money, no one wants to spend but if we are going to hope it goes to education.” –Commission Chairman Michael DelSanto

“The DePaolo (Middle School) bus loop, we just spent an awful lot of money doing that for the kids safety and now we are going to redo it again. It’s concerning the way money is being spent.” – Commissioner Francis Kenefick