Peter Mastrobattista and Amy Suffredini's Bi-Partisan Letter of Support for the Farmington High School Referendum

We are writing this letter not as a Democrat and a Republican, but as concerned citizens of Farmington who feel deeply that the funding of the FHS building project is an important community issue, not a partisan one.

We have grown increasingly saddened and dismayed at the scaremongering that is occurring concerning this project. As Town Councilmembers, we were there when this process was set in motion years ago, and we have been substantively involved in the decisions that have led to the forthcoming June 15 referendum. Our volunteer work means nothing if we don’t uphold the notion of public trust, and it is therefore our obligation to set the record straight. Here are the facts:

1. The building option that will appear on the ballot on Thursday was overwhelmingly approved by the Building Committee, Board of Education, and Town Council. The six other options that were examined in great detail, over an 18-month period, included renovation options as well as a new school on a different site. We believe the option that was approved is the most fiscally responsible option to meet the education and infrastructure needs of FHS.

2. The price for this building is NOT $184 million. The cost of the project is what is on the ballot itself. The design price is $135,636,900, and the Town anticipates State assistance that will yield a net cost to the Town of $109,865,889, plus financing costs. If we do not pass this referendum by June 30, 2017, there is no chance to receive this State assistance.

3. Even the $109 million figure does not account for the anticipated additional savings of hundreds of thousands of tax dollars that a more efficient building will achieve.

4. If we do not act now, we will forgo the opportunity for $25,771,011 in State assistance, and the well-documented problems at FHS will only get worse, while building costs and interest rates are likely only to rise. Further delay will likely mean a higher cost to all of us.

5. And, doing nothing simply is not a realistic option. The present facility has put FHS’s accreditation at risk, which does, in fact, impact students applying to college. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the organization responsible for granting accreditation to Connecticut high schools, has given Farmington two warnings now, both relating to the inadequacy of the facility.

6. In addition, the FHS facility is noncompliant in ways that must be remediated. The high school has been cited by the Connecticut Department of Education for numerous noncompliance points, including facilities issues with the American Civil Rights Act, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility also has significant safety and security compliance issues, as well as mechanical, equipment, and piping code compliance deficiencies.

7. If the referendum passes, Farmington will still have one of the lowest mill rates in Farmington Valley. If the referendum fails, the likelihood of property values decreasing in both the short and long term is high.

This referendum is about supporting our children’s future, supporting property values in our Town, and meeting our legal commitments, and doing all of this in the most fiscally responsible way. The analysis that yielded the option now proposed with virtually unanimous Town Council support was bi-partisan, exceptionally thorough and well documented, transparent, and inclusive. We are confident the proposed option is the very best one. This project needs our support.

Peter Mastrobattista and Amy Suffredini