School Construction Costs Too High Some Oxford Officials Feel

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

OXFORD, CT – An issue that won’t go away – the cost of the proposed middle school project to taxpayers – was the subject of a special meeting of the Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen on August 29th.

First Selectman George Temple seemed to set the tone for the meeting when he said he was getting “sticker shocked” by the estimated $48.6 million cost of the 86,205-square-foot school, of which the town’s taxpayers would be liable for $35.6 million.

Dave Herd, of Downes Construction, who are overseeing the project, said he has done an analysis of the project and that the impact on a single median home assessed at $250,000 in value would be $462 a year, or $38 per month.

Temple said while he supports the concept of the school the cost is too high.

Temple pointed out that the state’s current budget crisis is something that the town has to be mindful of. The first selectman said he still “wants to see how we can save money.”

Many at the meeting warned that putting off the project might turn out to be more costly, stating that the state’s $13 million commitment is locked in but may not be in future years.

The town is slated to receive state reimbursement at a rate of 27.5 percent if it goes ahead with the school this year; that reimbursement rate is expected to decrease after this year, however.

Great Oak Middle School Principal Anthony Hibbard went over the deficiencies with the current 70-year-old school, which he said include: the building layout does not support team teaching; no dedicated science facilities; library is obsolete without a media center; no dedicated music space; the gym is undersized; and, there is inadequate art facilities.

The timeline was also discussed.

A town wide referendum on whether to go ahead with the school is planned for November 8th of this year. If approved by voters construction would begin in June of 2019 and be completed in time for the beginning of the September, 2020 school year,