Madison Board Of Education Moves Ahead With $65.8 Million Capital Plan

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

MADISON, CT – After close to three years of studying the best plan for future utilization of Madison schools, the Board of Education has selected the option of building a new Ryerson School, renovating Jeffrey School a few years later and performing minor capital improvement plans to Polson School.

The estimated cost of the project is $65.8 million, with the town of Madison’s share being between $55.2 million and $59.4 million.

The board’s analysis computed that the tax impact on Madison taxpayers, based on a median assessed value of a home at $386,400 would be $685 on a “peak” year tax impact and $455 on an “average” tax year.

In the fall of 2014 the Board of Education (BOE) began a comprehensive analysis of the school facilities in order to address:

-- declining enrollment of students,

-- the aging condition of the facilities, and

-- to ensure that the district facilities match the instructional vision of the district.

Currently, the district utilizes six total schools and the Town Campus Learning Center preschool. In a five school model it is anticipated that Island Avenue School would eventually close, while newly constructed, or renovated, schools on the Jeffrey and Ryerson School campuses would serve all elementary grades in the town.

However, if endorsed by the Boards of Selectmen and Finance in June, the process would take multiple years to complete.

Between submitting application for state reimbursements, planning and designing the renovation or construction projects, and subjecting the financing to a town referendum, it is quite possible that the very earliest this process would culminate is the 2020-2021 school year, according to school officials.