The Farmington High School issue is a community one, not a political one

By: Mike Clark, former Farmington Town Council Chair

The FHS question before us is – in my opinion – a community issue, not a political one. Sue and I have lived in Farmington for 27 years, and our four children went through Farmington Public Schools. I had the honor of serving as Town Council Chairman for 6 years, a period which included referendum votes. In this context, I feel a need to cut through the propaganda and provide some insight that might be helpful.
I am 100% in favor of the proposal before us. While my reasons are many, I will try to be brief. FHS infrastructure – what can’t be easily seen – is in disastrous shape. The roof is leaking, the HVAC system is outdated and unreliable, the electrical is not to code, and it is a patchwork of additions that do not mesh together. The CT Department of Education found no fewer than 12 Civil Rights Act, Title IX and ADA noncompliance issues with our infrastructure.

The new building as proposed (instead of one of the many renovation options reviewed) makes sense for me for two reasons: 1. Finances. 2. Faith in the process and the committee. Taking the second point first, the Town Council set up a bipartisan building committee made up with some of the finest individuals in town, including a number of Highlands residents. The Committee included an attorney, (Dan Kleinman), a longtime BOE Member (Jean Baron), an architect (Hilary Donald), a builder (Johnny Carrier), and a construction engineer (Bill Wadsworth). Bottom line, if I were to build my own house, I would have this team in charge. These are responsible, knowledgeable, careful individuals who spent over 18 months – months that are entirely documented and transparent – examining every viable option available.

Yes, this is expensive. History has proven, however, that when referendum votes fail in Farmington, the underlying need not only does not go away, it costs us more money to fix later. Always. Negative propaganda has done this town a great disservice in the past, costing taxpayers significantly more than the initial proposals. In the ‘90s, the town had the opportunity to acquire the Greenbriar Building and 26 adjoining acres for our police station and community center for $2 Million. Overwhelming negative propaganda killed the vote, and years later we all paid $12 Million to address those needs. That’s a $10 Million, 26-acre mistake.
Another “no” group sabotaged a largely state-funded third bridge that would today be alleviating our traffic issues. Think about that lost opportunity the next time you are stuck in traffic trying to get from Unionville to Tunxis Meade.

The dilapidated high school problem is not going away. It will only be more dilapidated five years from now. The cost will escalate. If we approve this referendum, we will apply immediately for a state grant that would defray $25 million of the $135 million cost. This grant opportunity vanishes forever after June 30, 2017.
I received a “Vote No” mailer this week, and I am dismayed by what I consider to be blatant untruths in it that are meant to mislead and scare you. The most irresponsible claim is that a renovation would be easier, cheaper, and less disruptive to students. Quite the contrary, as was fully vetted out in public during the past year and a half. Additionally, the $184 Million price tag is nothing but a disingenuous scare tactic. The most the Town Council will allow – again, per public record – is the $109 Million figure that is on the referendum ballot itself. That means that if state funding falls through, the project will be scaled back, something else that was articulated clearly on the record.

Farmington High School is the centerpiece of our community. During the Halloween storm of 2011, FHS served as the emergency home for hundreds of our residents. This vote is our opportunity and obligation to build a school that will educate our kids for the next 50 years and keep our town a strong and vibrant community. Vote YES with me on Thursday.