Madison Narrows School Consolidation Choices; Cost Savings Identified: Report

MADISON, CT — The Board of Education is back discussing possible consolidation of schools and it’s appearing there is momentum for replacing the town’s three elementary schools with a new, central school, the Madison Source reports.

At a meeting earlier this month, school officials decided to eliminate a six-school model and are now weighing whether to have four or five schools.

A five-school model would cost $51 million and after state reimbursement that number would drop to $45 million, the Source reports.

A four-school model, which is the one referenced in the lead at the top of the story, it would cost $46 million and after reimbursement the cost to local taxpayers would be $40 million, the Source reports.

Officials say the town could save $1.62 million in operating costs via a four school model and they’d only save $975,000 under a five-school model.

A four-school model would also have less of an impact on the town’s tax rate.

A joint Finance, Selectmen and School Board meeting will be held 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Town Campus on school consolidation plans.

Read the full Madison Source story here.

Written by Brian McCready (Patch National Staff)

(Editor's Note: We first published this story earlier in the week but here it is again in case you missed it.)