Bethel Schools Invite Public to Groundbreaking for Renovations

BETHEL, CT — The district will kick-off renovations on Rockwell and Johnson elementary schools with a groundbreaking ceremony that is open to the public on Thursday, April 11 at 11 a.m.

The event is being held during a school day, the invitation reads, in order that students and school staff might participate.

Last month the town locked in the budget for renovations to the schools, setting the ceiling at 25.9 million for Rockwell and $39.5 million for Johnson. Rockwell is about $1 million over budget, due to environmental issues, including PCBs which must be abated. Johnson is about 1.7 million under budget, placing the overall project under the $65.8 million approved by voters in 2017. A state grant covers 45 percent of each project.

The Public Site and Building Committee has a guarantee from construction company Rizzo Corporation that caps expenditures and estimates completion by Dec. 1, 2020.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be held in the side parking lot of Johnson school. The rain date is set for April 23.