Board of Directors, School Board Review Referendum Plans

The Manchester Board of Directors and Board of Education held a special joint meeting Monday, July 29, 2013, to discuss plans to bond $17.35 million to finance a new fifth/sixth grade academy and possibly close several elementary schools in town. 

The meeting was a sort of open dialogue between the two boards, and allowed both the chance to sound off, question and explain plans that a sub-committee has developed to expand and combine the existing Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy with the neighboring Cheney Building to form a fifth/sixth grade academy for the town's public school students. 

The project carries a $17.35 million price tag, but about $10 million of that is eligible for reimbursement from the state. A public hearing must be held on the project before the Board of Directors can formally vote to place it on a November ballot to let voters decide its fate. 

The two boards also discussed a proposal - not as far along as the Cheney/Bennet proposal - for a "like new" reconstruction of Roberston Elementary School and construct a new Washington Elementary School. 

Interim Superintendent Richard Kisiel and General Manager Scott Shanley noted that one of the hurdles the town faces when it comes to the elementary schools is uncertainty about whether they will have to include space for fifth grade classrooms and activities; if the Cheney/Bennet fails at the polls in November, it would essentially send the whole plan "back to the drawing board." 

Shanley also noted that, due to state standards that tie reimbursement to the number of students per square foot of learning space, it would actually be cheeped for the community to construct both Roberston and Washington to hold about 530 students, which is more than both schools currently accommodate. 

"The way the funding works, the state really wants you to build a 550 or 600 student elementary school, not a 300," said Board of Education Chairman Chris Pattacini. 

Kisiel told both boards that, if that plan comes to fruition, it would make two of the town's existing nine elementary schools redundant and liable to close, which would then lead to redistricting, although those schools have not been determined yet. 

Both boards said they would like the school system to develop a plan for redistricting, but that it was also important to keep the community informed that these changes could be coming. 

"The work is happening," Board of Education member Sarah Walton said. "I don't think it's happening as quickly as any of us like, but it's going to take time to develop a plan."