Tough Decision Ahead In Middle School Feasibility Project

The Board of Education will soon be faced with a tough decision on whether to move forward with a plan for a middle school renovation project that would conform only to the district’s current population or risk losing state funding in order to build larger for future enrollment.

School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. told the board Thursday evening that members will need to give a projected size to architects with Fletcher Thompson, but their decision could mean millions in costs to the community.

“The last thing we’d want to do is build too small and have the electorate question why, but there is a cost penalty in grant funding if we build above the projection and don’t meet that population,” Erardi said.

In a study completed in 2010, the New England School Development Council set a 10-year projected high of 1,622 students in grades 6 through 8, a mark that would be reached during the 2013-14 school year.

Erardi said the projections haven’t been entirely accurate, however, and the district is anticipating more than the projected high with an expected enrollment of 1,628 students in grades 6 through 8 during the upcoming school year, already higher than the council’s largest estimate.

Projections were also shorter during the current year, where the council estimated there would be 1,570 students, 20 fewer than the current enrollment at the town’s middle schools.

These projections are determined using a mathematical formula that considers estimated births, existing children, students enrolled, residential development patterns and economic conditions, among other factors, said Joseph G. Costa, Principal with Fletcher Thompson.

“There are two things that could happen. We could build it larger than the projections, but the state only allows a certain number of square feet per student and if we don’t meet that, we’d be penalized for unused space,” said Fred Cox, director of operations for Southington Schools. “On the other hand if we use these projections and don’t have enough students, we wouldn’t be penalized.”

The state currently funds about 50 percent of school construction for new and renovated as new projects, Costa said, but previous decisions to build schools well in excess of district needs have led legislators to create more stringent policies.

Unlike in the past, however, when school districts had several years to “close out” a project and request the grant reimbursements, Southington will be faced with a stricter policy that forces it to provide a “close out” number within one year of the school construction being completed.

Board Chairman Brian Goralski, Vice-Chairman Terri Carmody and David Derynoski each expressed concerns Thursday with building to a projection that wouldn’t even meet current needs.

“I sit on the town’s SEED committee and there are four developers building family dwellings with children,” Carmody said. “If the economy improves and developers continue to build, it will be a factor.”

The board will continue discussions during their next meeting on March 24 when members will vote on a projection size to provide to Fletcher Thompson.