Letter: Vote ‘YES’ on the Elementary School Referendum
To the Editor:
The future of Southington’s elementary schools belongs to all of Southington. The upcoming November 3rd referendum question outlines rebuilding Kelley school, completing a small, pre-existing build-out at South End school, and closing Flanders school. The implications of this proposal reach far beyond any “Flanders versus Kelley” narrative. Instead, it extends to the opportunities we provide our children, the investments we make with taxpayer dollars, and the kind of community we leave for the next generation. Every resident has a stake in that future, whether they have a child in an elementary classroom or have never walked through any of the school’s doors.
As a Kelley School parent since 2019, I understand the difference between a school community and a school building. While the Kelley school community is a warm, welcoming place, its physical walls, largely untouched since the school opened in 1966, leave much to be desired.
Last spring, however, I had the opportunity to tour elementary schools across Southington. Only after walking through the buildings did I fully understand the disparity in the learning environments this town currently provides our children. The difference in school quality is striking and it should matter to every resident, regardless of which school their children attend or whether they have children in school at all.
Thalberg’s library is one example that has stayed with me as a prime example of this disparity. The library at this school is expansive compared to Kelley’s tiny, cramped media center, with room for far more books, resources, and space for student learning. Standing in those two spaces, I could see how differently children in the same town experience something as fundamental as a school library.
This is no reflection on Kelley’s dedicated teachers and staff. They do extraordinary work within the space available. But their creativity and commitment cannot make outlets have more capacity. It cannot make water stains disappear from the ceiling tiles, or magically create adequate heating or cooling conditions. It cannot make our building ADA compliant—a building that is currently inaccessible to any student who uses a wheel chair.
Bottom Line: Our children deserve learning environments that support their education, and our educators deserve buildings that help them do their jobs.
That is why I fully support the November 3 referendum to build a new Kelley School and build-out of already existing space for an expansion at South End School.
This is not to say I take the closing of Flanders lightly. In an ideal world, we would close no schools. We would rebuild both Kelley and Flanders, preserve every school community, and provide every child with updated facilities. I understand why families want that outcome. A school holds relationships, memories and a sense of belonging. Those concerns deserve respect.
It does not diminish the fact that Southington officials must make decisions within real financial and practical limits. The town has to balance enrollment, available space, construction costs and the ongoing expense of operating and maintaining its buildings. The district’s studies and comparison of alternatives identified this plan as the best fit for our enrollment needs and financial considerations. It uses existing space at South End and a Kelley property better suited to new construction, while addressing the need for more equitable learning environments. Those are practical reasons to move forward.
Fiscal responsibility also means recognizing that waiting has a cost. Rejecting this proposal does not eliminate the needs of our aging buildings. The district has documented substantial maintenance and capital improvement needs at Kelley, Flanders, and Derynoski. Delaying action leaves taxpayers gambling on when expensive repairs will become unavoidable and how much we will spend keeping outdated buildings functioning while still needing a long-term solution.
Meanwhile, students continue learning in the same unequal spaces. Childhood does not pause while adults debate another proposal. A year of delay is a year children cannot get back. Approving the referendum only begins the work: designing and building schools takes years, making action now even more urgent.
Residents can care deeply about our schools and disagree about this plan. But after seeing the differences firsthand and considering the district’s research, I believe this proposal offers a responsible path forward. While it cannot give every person their ideal outcome, we can take a meaningful step toward better learning environments while using town resources thoughtfully.
All of the elementary school students in Southington deserve the opportunity to learn in quality, comparable environments without further delay. The culmination of this plan gives EVERY elementary school child in Southington an updated and adequate building.
Please vote YES on November 3.
Megan Mele
Note: the opinions expressed in this letter do not necessarily reflect those of The Southington Outsider.
