Granby Board of Education Workshop Reviews Large Capital Projects

The Granby Board of Education met Monday evening to review upcoming large capital projects needed in the district.  An athletic field project, a maintenance and facilities building and technology upgrades are among the projects to be completed in the coming years. 

The capital projects discussed Monday evening have projected completion dates ranging from 2012 to 2013. According to board handouts, gross costs for the athletic field project are $5-8.5 million, the maintenance and facilities building will cost $1.5 million, a technology upgrade will cost $459,000, and a high school electronics lab will be $164,400. 

Both the athletic field and maintenance and facilities building will require space that is not currently available on the existing campus.  The board must also consider complications that would arise from having either facility on a separate property.  In order to expand the current campus the district would have to acquire additional land adjacent to the complex.

 In regards to the land acquisition versus putting in synthetic fields, board member John O’Connor said, “our first priority should be looking for other land.” If getting more land becomes unrealistic or cost-prohibitive, O’Connor said, the board could then look back at putting in synthetic fields. 

According to board handouts, the existing campus has approximately half the land that is required to accommodate the middle and high schools athletic requirements, per Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference guidelines. In addition, there is a lack of a proper maintenance program and/or lack of irrigation and the fields also suffer from overuse. 

“Our athletic fields are embarrassing,” Superintendent of Schools Alan Addley said, later adding, “The major priority is the athletic fields for the kids.”

Regarding the athletic facility, the board debated whether it should be on the high school/middle school campus, or on another piece of land. Board member Matt Wutka said location of the facility will determine what type of field will be built, but a synthetic field will allow for more use.

Board member Ron Walther said, “As it’s configured today we’ve run out of space.”

Principles for the maintenance and facilities building included the inclusion of storage space for district facilities, technology and drama, adequate working space for employees and a centralized facility that supports cost-effective purchasing and inventory control. 

Board handouts specified approximately 11,000 square feet for the building. 

Board Chair Cal Heminway said if the athletic fields and the maintenance and facilities building could be handled on one piece of land, “there might be some savings.”

Some highlights to the technology upgrade, according to plans, would include district-wide wireless network expansion, additional computer labs at the high and middle schools and district-wide security camera upgrades. 

The last project discussed was the high school electronics lab. Due to increasing enrollment, larger, safer and updated facilities are needed, which would include construction and modifications to existing space at the school. Addley said the current lab does not provide for curriculum needs. 

Moving forward, Addley said the next step for the athletic and maintenance projects would be to see if any land is available. And, for the technology upgrade and electronics lab, Addley said the the board will touch base with the Board of Selectman, to include the two projects in a package the selectmen are looking to bond.