School Reconfiguration Options Selected For Survey In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — The Board of Education will forward three options for the proposed school reconfiguration plan to the public for a survey, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Salvatore Menzo. The board’s Operations Committee reviewed the updated options at a meeting on Monday night. The following options will be included in the survey:

Option 1 – In option 1, the district strategic plan for capital improvements would be funded for both middle schools and both high schools. The estimated cost to this plan is $15.6 million. “This does not include air conditioning for each building,” Menzo said in an email to parents. “Depending on the projects in the plan, some could be reimbursable from the State of Connecticut.”

Option 2 – In option 2, both middle schools and both high schools would be renovated to new as defined by the State of Connecticut. The estimated cost to this plan is $117.2 million. “These are not new schools; however, they are the highest level of renovations that are reimbursable by the State of Connecticut,” according to Menzo. “This option would include air conditioning for all four schools.”

Option 3 – In option 3, Lyman Hall High School would be renovated to new and extended to accommodate the population of both high schools. Both middle schools would be renovated to new as defined by the State of Connecticut. The estimated cost to this plan is $103.5 million. “These are not new schools; however, they are the highest level of renovations that are reimbursable by the State of Connecticut,” according to Menzo. “This option would include air conditioning for all three schools.”

“The survey is being developed by the consultants and will provide residents more detail to assist in better understanding the choices,” Menzo said. “The Board of Education will review the survey before it is disseminated. The survey will be disseminated after the spring break. The Board of Education will work with the consultants to determine the best means of conducting the survey in order to garner the greatest response rate.

“As we have stated in the past, the survey results will be shared with the Town Council with the intended outcome being the Town Council would support the Board of Education moving forward with a second level (deeper dive) study. If the Town Council supports the second level study, the Board of Education would seek additional outside services. That report and more detailed findings would be then shared with the Board of Education and Town Council for next steps.”