NORWICH — City council members on Tuesday took great liking to a proposed $381 million school building plan that will give the city four new elementary schools, a renovated middle school and new headquarters at a cost of nearly $75 million to carry out maintenance and repairs would offer. Will give less Current aging and undersized schools.
After a detailed presentation of the plan by representatives from Architectural Firm Drummy Rosen Anderson, Inc. or DRA, Alderman emphasized the actual and expected savings that the major project would commend the architects and school building committee for their efforts.
After an estimated 67% state reimbursement, the city’s $149 million taxpayer portion of the $381 million project will replace the existing seven elementary schools, an unrenovated Teachers Memorial Global Studies Middle School and a central office building.
Maintenance and repairs to existing buildings are expected to cost $165 million over the next 20 years compared to today and $275.8 million with inflation. The architects said very few works would qualify for state reimbursement.
The proposal includes new elementary schools, each with about 525 students, the Moriarty Environmental Science Magnet School, the John B. Stanton School, the Anacas School, and the land where the Greenville School once stood. The Teachers Memorial is undergoing a complete renovation to make it the equivalent of the recently renovated Kelly Steam Magnet Middle School.
DRA Project Manager Greg Smalley said the sites are central to the city’s future population growth to generate savings in transportation costs and that each site has sufficient assets for new playgrounds and playgrounds.
School headquarters and adult education are relocated to the Samuel Huntington School. The Wakwonok School in Taftville becomes a virtual learning center. The central offices at Thomas Mahan, the Veterans Memorial, the Bishop Early Learning Center and the former John Mason School will all close.
Alderman Darrell Wilson said the savings from the new project go beyond energy-efficient new builds and lower maintenance costs. With more space and better facilities, Norwich could bring home special needs students who have now been relocated to special schools outside the city.
Wilson said he also liked the option for each school to have new playgrounds and playgrounds.
Council President Pro Tempore Joseph DeLucia said, “There’s a quick hint, we’ll have four new elementary schools and a completely renovated and larger second secondary school for less than $75 million, which is less than the school system we already have.” less than putting money into it.” ,
He said the city had three or four surplus buildings that could be sold or renovated, perhaps for a community center that residents have repeatedly requested.
Mayor Peter Nystrom urged the architects and school building committee to involve local school preparation program leaders in discussions about whether to house full preschools in each building. The Norwich School Prep Program, run by the LEARN Regional Education Agency, receives federal grants for more than 300 pre-school places in the city.
The City Council will hold a similar presentation to the public in the Council chambers next Monday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m. with time for questions and comments.
The city council will introduce an ordinance linking it to the proposed school project at its July 18 meeting, with a public hearing on the ordinance scheduled for August. , To get items on the ballot on November 8th.
The school building committee approved the project’s master plan last week. The presentation will be posted on the city’s website at www.norwichct.org.
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