You may have seen these signs appearing in various locations in town. From my perspective they stretch reality a bit.
For starters, the grant commitment made by the state’s legislature is phenomenal. An almost 95% reimbursement for school construction is rare and is a one-time opportunity we should not squander.
Lower Taxes? Really? There are some catches. The School Building Committee’s (SBC) financial analysis of Willington’s debt obligation strategically leaves out some details. Lower Taxes - perhaps. But ONLY for the portion of our town budget dedicated for school infrastructure. What is not included in their analysis is the carrying cost of empty buildings. Further, given the drastic reductions in portions of our town budget over the last few budget cycles will result in an effort to recover those reductions. A smaller future tax bill? Not likely.
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Save Hall School? A Yes vote alone will not save Hall Memorial School (HMS). While the SBC has graciously provided an alternate site plan that spares HMS and its parking lot, there is no funding for its preservation. What the future holds for a spared HMS depends on the willingness of our residents to lobby for the funding and a serious decision as to its future function. Some options could include housing school administration that does not need to be in the new school. It could become a community center with meeting space and a gym for activities. Social Services and the financial department could move out of the water leak plagued portion of the town office building into spaces at HMS.
What we do NOT need is to spare HMS only for it to remain empty.
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An empty Center Elementary School (CES) could become a financial burden to maintain so it does not become a empty deteriorated building. I will advocate for its sale to a developer willing to convert it into something useful and beneficial to the town of Willington. Without burdening our taxpayers.
I am not lobbying for a Yes or No vote. What I am lobbying for is a serious evaluation and commitment from our residents and our local government to plan far beyond a shiny new Pre-K to 8 school. The Referendum on September 29th is not the end of the planning process - it can be the beginning of a newer era that we can be proud of.
Ralph Tulis
Willington
Ralph Tulis is a life-long resident of Willington and currently serves on the Board of Selectmen and served on the previous School Building Committee. The views expressed in this article are his own and not that of any Willington Board, Committee or Commission.
