MINUTES
JOINT WORK SESSION
TOWN COUNCIL AND BOARD OF EDUCATION
SOUTH WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL APRIL 28, 2003
MEDIA CENTER 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
The meeting was called to order by Board of Education Chairperson Kathleen Soucy Daugherty at 7:10 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Council Present: Mayor William Aman
Deputy Mayor Matthew Streeter
Councillor Paul Burnham
Councillor Thomas Delnicki
Councillor Deborah Fine
Councillor Judith Paquin
Councillor John Pelkey
Council Absent: Councillor Barbara Barbour
Councillor Edward F. Havens
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
Howard Fitts, Chairman, Public Building Commission
Members of the Citizens Advisory Group on Elementary Facilities (Angelo Alleano, Ray Favreau, Tony Fornuto, Barbara Hoff, Tim Kenfick, Roy Normen, Tracy Robinson and Sheila Strong)
Board Members
Present: Kathleen Soucy Daugherty, Chairperson
David S. Joy
Keith Yagaloff
Thomas Reale
Antoinette Rodrigues
Janice Snyder
David Wilson
Board Members
Absent: Patrick Hennessey
Victoria McCulloch
Also Present: Dr. Joseph Wood, Supt. of Schools
Public Participation – None
4. Items for Discussion
A. Final Report on Elementary Facilities Needs from Board of Education’s “Citizens Advisory Committee”
(See attached Exhibits A, B and C.)
Dr. Wood reported that the Board of Education had met a few weeks ago and had reviewed the various recommendations of the Citizens Advisory Committee. Based upon the input of Dr. Wood, Dr. Wlodarczyk, Mr. Neel, and the Principals, the recommendations were categorized into priority areas. The categories were as follows:
Priority 1 – Recommendations which were essential to the core mission.
Priority 2 – Recommendations which were a support to the core mission.
Priority 3 – Recommendations which were nice to have.
U - Undecided
X – Eliminated
Tracy Robinson, one of the Co-Chairs of the Citizens Advisory Committee, explained the process involved in preparing the report. The Committee started with a round-table discussion, followed by discussions with staff and other community members, as well as visits to various sites where renovations had been made. They then obtained input from the architect. They specifically asked whether it was the architects’ opinion that the buildings should be torn down, and the architects felt that there were ways to correct the problems without the need for full demolition.
Dr. Wood stated that he, Dr. Wlodarczyk, and Mr. Neel had met with the architects, and it was apparent that the architects believe that the good portions of these buildings are serviceable. There may, however, be sections which have to be torn down and reconfigured. They wanted to reserve specific reasons as to why they might take issue with some of the OR&L findings until they have had a chance to have their engineers review those areas that they think require specific responses.
Hap Fitts, Chairman of the Public Building Commission, noted that the architects have only been under contract for about six weeks; and when
4. A. (Continued)
they met with the Citizen’s Advisory Committee, there wasn’t yet a signed contract. They have only had enough time to do certain aspects of what is expected of them, and it will be several months before definitive comments will be available.
The Committee had visited a very old school in Avon that had been renovated. It was quite impressive, and it changed the minds of many people as far as demolition versus renovation. Another major component of what they saw involved media centers—centralized and organized locations for equipment and supplies.
Ms. Robinson noted that the elementary schools should be available to the public for various activities—training, community events, etc.
Ray Favreau, Director of Recreation, was asked if recreational activities will figure into the equation. He said that he was able to visit two out of the three schools, and both were able to accommodate heavy community use. They had security systems with segregated sections of the buildings, as well as enlarged gymnasiums to accommodate youth and adult activities after hours. They had outdoor facilities to handle physical education programs and after-hours programs of the Town.
In looking at these schools for community activities, concern was raised about the size of furniture in that it is not appropriate for adults and whether school renovations should be planned around such uses. It was explained that the multi-purpose rooms and gymnasiums were the key areas for consideration.
Mr. Favreau said a list had been compiled of activities that would be appropriate to transition from the Community Center to the schools.
The issue of safety and security was briefly addressed in conjunction with the need for additional doors.
The Committee was asked if consideration had been given to doing a “quick fix” to some schools, and then building one at regular intervals. The Committee responded that it was considered, but it was not a solution they felt would work.
4. A. (Continued)
PTO members noted that it is difficult for them to find a location in which to work when at the schools. They work in the hallway, which is unsafe; in the teacher’s workroom, which interferes with the teachers’ space; or in the cafeteria, which is difficult when lunch waves are occurring. They felt that they are asked to do a great deal in short time periods, and they need to have a small area available for their use.
Noting that she had been asked by the press how much enrollment was increasing, which would warrant additions to schools, Ms. Daugherty said that it is not about the enrollment; it is about how education has changed and the delivery of the education.
Regarding building entrances and related safety, Mr. Fitts was asked about the safety in schools when elections are held there. He said that those are design considerations for which the architect will be asked to provide answers. He believes that the entrances and exits should be visible from the offices of the schools.
Referring to the referenda which had failed, Mr. Fitts emphasized the need for a compelling reason for projects and the related amounts of those projects. He said that the rough design work would not begin until an analysis is completed for each of the sites.
Mayor Aman suggested that before the architects put anything on paper, words such as “PTO Room,” “Teachers’ Lounge,” and other replacement “buzz words” should not be used on the first plans.
Mr. Fitts said that they anticipate building a structure which will stand up “at least as long as the ones that are in place today.” He said they looked at 12 different architectural firms and interviewed 6. They are looking at a building which would be operable in 2006 or 2007. He said they have talked of how to do five schools—doing them all at once, using five different contractors, and what the “acceptability” will be in the community. There were also questions with regard to including all the schools on one referendum question.
Questions were asked about the renovations which were done to the school in Avon, such as why they opted for renovations, the costs of the renovations, etc. The Committee said they could obtain that information.
4. A. (Continued)
Mr. Normen suggested that clarification was needed with regard to the PTO’s of the past—where individuals met once a month, compared with PTO’s of the present—where a large number of people come into the classroom and volunteer on a regular basis. Discussion continued with regard to the large role of the PTO, as well as volunteers in general, in the school system today.
Ms. Daugherty felt that the public needs to be educated as far as the changes which have occurred in education during the past twenty years.
Mr. Fitts didn’t feel there was any question—new windows would be a requirement in every one of the buildings. Each building will be evaluated on its own, based upon the conditions of the building. In those renovated thus far, there has been additional insulation and the windows and the heating and ventilating systems have been altered.
Mr. Fitts spoke of the wonderful job that Pat Hankard (Board of Education - Building Maintenance) has done in keeping the schools in good shape; if they were falling down, there would be more compelling reasons to do things. He said there are some basic problems, but they are generally in “good shape.”
In response to questions concerning the life of buildings, Mr. Fitts said that the buildings, if done correctly, “can live again for the same lifetime for which they have already lived.”
Mr. Galligan spoke of the effect the school system has on property values.
Dr. Wood offered a reminder that there are currently 13 relocatable classrooms attached to the elementary schools and 5 modular classrooms that were never intended to last forty or fifty years. He said that community collaboration is going to be key for this project. He added that the longer we wait, the more this is going to cost; therefore, November 2004 is a real deadline date.
Dr. Wood also emphasized that the PTO’s are an integral part of the school system.
4. A. (Continued)
In discussing reconfigured space, Dr. Wood indicated that there is a real concern with Wapping School because of its small size.
Mr. Galligan emphasized the importance of communication between the Council and the Board, and also of “marketing” with the public.
Handicapped accessibility in the schools was then discussed, as was the possibility of at least one of the schools being air-conditioned.
It was decided that joint meetings, such as this one, should continue to occur.
5. Executive Session – None
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Merlyn P. Guild
Assistant to the Clerk of the Council
Attachments
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