Schools
Massive Southington School Building Project On Hold For Now
The Southington Town Council has tabled action toward a school bond vote after public debate on costs, timing, and closures.
SOUTHINGTON, CT — Plans for a major school building project that would close schools, build new ones, and redraw district lines are not dead, but local officials last week put the brakes on regarding plans to decide on a project soon.
The Southington Town Council, on March 23, tabled action on a proposed $86.7 million elementary school facilities plan following a long public hearing that night marked by sharp disagreement over costs, timing, and school closures.
The proposal would fund construction of a new Kelley Elementary School, complete the South End Elementary School expansion, and close Flanders Elementary School, repurposing it for municipal use.
Find out what's happening in Southingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The plan relies on bonding and anticipated state reimbursement of up to 65 percent.
That night, the council conducted and closed a marathon public hearing on the bonding, but it tabled any further action.
Find out what's happening in Southingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Public concerns
Residents questioned the financial impact and educational value of the proposal, with several urging the council to delay a planned June 2 referendum.
Brian Teske of Mill Street argued that improved facilities do not guarantee better student outcomes.
“Excellence isn’t measured in concrete,” he said, adding that the project represents “full-scale rebuild” spending at a time of declining enrollment.
He warned that the cost “isn’t free money” but long-term debt borne by taxpayers.
Susan Zabohonski of Werking Street and Ann Marie Conaty of Mount Vernon Road both criticized the referendum timing, suggesting it be moved to November to allow more voter education and clarity on tax impacts.
Conaty called it “fiscally irresponsible” to proceed before residents understand upcoming tax increases.
Others echoed concerns about transparency, planning, and potential tax increases, as well as the decision to close Flanders Elementary.
Tracy Ianni of Alpine Trail opposed any plan that eliminates a school, while Kimberly Troccolo of Crest Road raised concerns about class sizes, traffic, and the lack of a traffic study.
Shama Greene of Memorial Drive questioned inconsistencies in planning documents and said the community has not been meaningfully involved.
She urged officials to “pause, regroup and work together.”
Some Support
Supporters argued that delaying the project would increase costs and prolong existing facility issues.
Lindsay Veroneau of Alice Lane called the plan “a smart forward-thinking investment,” while Ben McNamee of Ridgewood Road said aging buildings make continued repairs more expensive over time.
Megan Mele of West Street said the town would still need to spend about $25 million to maintain current facilities, calling inaction “one of the most harmful decisions.”
Former school superintendent Tim Connellan said Kelley Elementary has seen little change in decades and described infrastructure limitations, calling the proposal “a really good plan” and saying “now is absolutely the right time.”
Angela Lauretano of Hitchcock Road said the phased project would remain within debt limits and provide modern learning environments, while Seth Korn of Yorktown Road framed the issue as one of safety and equity, citing deteriorating conditions and lost instructional time.
Project Timeline Presented
Southington Superintendent of Schools Steve Madancy said the project has been in discussion for years and emphasized the importance of meeting a June 30 state grant deadline.
“If they don’t submit by June 30, then they wouldn’t be on the December priority list,” he said, adding delays would increase costs due to construction escalation.
Madancy said the buildings are “clean and dry” but contain outdated systems, including heating and intercom infrastructure beyond their useful life.
He acknowledged that no traffic study has been completed.
Madancy also clarified that redistricting plans would be developed closer to project completion using updated enrollment data.
Southington Town Council Chairman Paul Chaplinsky, speaking as a resident, supported the plan, calling it “the most cost-effective, long-term option” and estimating the local share at about $31 million after reimbursement.
He said maintaining older buildings would still require significant spending without modernization.
Council action
Later in the evening, during its regular meeting, the council voted unanimously to table a Southington Planning and Zoning Commission referral related to the proposed school bond referendum.
The motion to table was made by Councilor David Zoni and seconded by Councilor Michael DelSanto.
What's next?
The tabling delays further council action on the proposal and leaves the timeline for a potential referendum uncertain.
Key unresolved issues include:
- Whether the referendum will proceed in June or be delayed
- Final estimates of taxpayer impact
- Details of redistricting and school consolidation
- Additional studies, including traffic and enrollment projections
Town officials have indicated that meeting the state reimbursement deadline remains a critical factor in determining next steps.
For the minutes of the March 23 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.
From March 27: 'Southington PZC Backs Bonding For Massive School Building Project'
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
