Darien School Board To Receive Update On Library Renovation Plans

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Board of Education is slated to receive an update on proposed library renovation designs for Darien High School, Middlesex Middle School and Tokeneke Elementary School.

Earlier this month, the board's Facilities Committee received a presentation on main design components from the design team at Silver Petrucelli & Associates, an architectural firm.

During that meeting, the committee and school administration discussed prioritizing the projects, with DHS leading the way, according to a memo included with the BOE agenda from Kevin Munrett, director of facilities.

MMS was envisioned to be rolled up into a larger building project which could be on the horizon after the Hindley, Holmes and Royle projects are well underway, Munrett said.

Tokeneke was viewed as "quite serviceable" and needing the least amount of improvement at the moment, Munrett added.

Silver Petrucelli said they could lower the overall project costs by using less expensive construction materials. Munrett said it would not alter initial design of how the libraries would function, and not impact learning experiences for students.

According to Munrett's memo, utilizing the "value engineered" approach, DHS would cost $1.9 million, MMS would cost about $996,000, and Tokeneke would come in at around $864,000.

Tuesday's Darien Board of Education meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., in-person at the Darien Public Schools' administrative offices.

Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. The board will move to adjourn into executive session and reconvene into public session at 7:30 p.m.

Members of the community wishing to participate in public comment should join the meeting via Zoom.

Those wishing to view only should do so through the Darien YouTube link.