Madison 'Schools Renewal Plan' Public Forum Set For Tuesday

MADISON, CT — With the original date scuttled because of inclement weather, the Madison Public Schools Renewal Plan public forum is set for Tuesday.

The forum will be held at 7 p.m. at Walter C. Polson Middle School and via Zoom.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Craig Cooke, Facilities Director Bill McMinn, Finance Director Stacy Nobitz and representatives from Colliers International will review the overall scope of the project, discuss the educational specifications for any new construction, and present the project budget and projected tax impact.

There will be a Q&A session following the presentation and discussion for the public to provide input and ask questions.

Visit the district website to www.madison.k12.ct.us/renewal to learn more about the Madison School Renewal Plan and to access the public forum Zoom link.

Members of the public are welcome to send questions in advance of the forum to renewal@madison.k12.ct.us

In September 2019, the Board of Education adopted the Madison Schools Renewal Plan to address aging school buildings, which range in age from 18 to 64-years-old.

The plan includes:

• Construct a PreK-5 elementary school on the Green Hill Campus
• Transform Brown Intermediate School into a K-5 school
• Maintain Polson as a 6-8 school and DHHS as 9-12
• Complete significant renovations at Polson including new Air Quality Systems/HVAC, auditorium modernization, and security enhancements

The plan will result in the closure of two of the oldest school buildings - Jeffrey and Ryerson elementary schools - as well as the Town Campus Learning Center Preschool, contracting the district down to four buildings. Construction would begin shortly after a referendum, if sucessful, and all new and renovated buildings would open their doors in 2025.

The comprehensive plan selected and set for a public referendum in Feb. 2022 will allow our buildings to deliver improved indoor air quality, comply with current building codes, include enhanced school security, and ultimately provide learning environments that meet the needs of education today and into the future.