Elementary School Plans Get Public Hearing at Council Meeting
- Peter Prohaska
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Over a dozen Southington residents came to the podium to speak for or against a proposed referendum on the elementary schools during a public hearing held at the March 23 Town Council meeting. After hearing their testimony, as well as remarks from current Superintendent Steve Madancy and former Superintendent Tim Connellan, the Council decided to table the matter until its next meeting.
It is up to Town Council to make a final decision on whether the referendum will be held, and, if so, when it will happen. The proposal would authorize $86,675,560 in borrowing for the rebuilding of Kelley Elementary and a fit out of South End Elementary. It anticipates reimbursement from the state that would cover anywhere from 50% to 65% of the total costs. Timing is crucial, according to Madancy; failure to approve the ballot item by June would mean an entire year would pass before the state legislature could approve the funds.
Preliminary specifications for the two new school sites were approved by the Board of Education at its last meeting, but final architectural and engineering designs would not be created until later in the process.
Of the eight residents who spoke in favor of the referendum, many argued that the current state of Kelley is not fair to students or teachers, who must contend with uncomfortable heat and outdated facilities.
Antiquated communications and electrical systems cause ongoing problems that are difficult or impossible to repair properly due to lack of available parts, Madancy added. Connellan echoed this in his statement, pointing out that plans for an upgrade had first been sketched out over ten years ago, during his tenure. Copy machines could not be used at the same time as the air-conditioning, a state of affairs that Madancy said still prevailed at Kelley. Madancy also pointed out that retrofitting the school for modern HVAC would be cost-prohibitive, because of the original concrete block construction. There would be no way to raise the roof for those upgrades, he said, without severe disruption and possible closure of Kelley.
The six speakers who objected to the projects mentioned a variety of concerns, from the high costs associated with borrowing in a time of financial stress, to the disruptions to students, parents and community members that would come with redistricting. Others worried that closing Flanders and redistributing students throughout the remaining seven schools would create crowded classrooms that could be difficult for teachers to manage.
The first speaker, Brian Teske, suggested that “excellence isn’t measured in concrete” and pointed out that American educational achievements have little to do with high expenditures. Later, Ben McNamee countered that that the physical space of learning is “not separable” from the content, and that research demonstrates that better-designed classrooms have a positive impact on student performance.
Ann-Marie Conaty, who opposed the measure, stressed the unfairness of holding the referendum in June, before a final decision on the mill-rate was made. Residents might vote to approve the borrowing and associated future payments, only to turn around and be hit with another tax hike that would go beyond the limits of what they could afford.
Seth Korn, a supporter of the proposal, argued that Connecticut law mandates new schools, since all of a town’s schools are supposed to be “equally well-equipped.” He returned to the podium later to compare this process to acquiring a new car: rather than spending money on a new engine and other expensive repair needs, it often makes sense to purchase a new one.
Madancy was given a final opportunity to state his case and clarify a number of points raised by Town Council Chairman Paul Chaplinsky. Madancy recalled his time as Principal of Pumpkin Delight Elementary in Milford, which underwent a similar process of consolidation. He said that despite the complications associated with redistricting, the new school quickly assumed a positive role in the community. In all, he concluded, closing a school and building a new one was “the best thing to do based on the scenarios in front of us.”
Other Council Business
Councilor Chris Palmieri reported from the Apple Harvest Festival committee that many of the festival’s formalities will remain unchanged from last year, including fees for vendors. He announced that applications and other information are available now via the Apple Harvest website.
Councilor Tony Morrison’s Sewer Committee report brought to light several projects that residents might not be aware are ongoing. These include gunite repair at the South Clarifier, which will begin as temperatures warm, and the ongoing sewer lining replacement making progress throughout town. A project of PCB remediation that was previously approved is held up pending confirmation that no tricolored bats, a Federally-threatened species, are present in trees near the site.
Former Councilor Vicky Triano, representing the America250 Committee, provided an update on the many events coming to Southington to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial in July, including a John Cougar Mellencamp cover band.
The Council also approved new contract language that extended an arrangement at the town-owned farm property at 64 Blueberry Lane. The current tenant, Lewis Educational Agricultural Farm, was the recipient of grants but needed Town approval to comply with legal requirements.
Town Manager Alex Ricciardone also announced that, although the Board of Education opted not to go forward with a proposed plan for solar parking canopies at the High School parking lot, a similar array would be installed at the Police Department. Ricciardone said the arrangement would provide the Town an annual cost savings of $25,000.
The next Town Council meeting, on April 6, will also feature a public hearing, this time regarding the 2026-27 budget.
