Build to Suit- Viable Option by Shannon Tredennick

"BUILD TO SUIT" IS ABSOLUTELY A VIABLE OPTION

I do not understand why a certain group in Region 12 continue to refer to 'build to suit' as a nonviable option. We only have to look to our neighbors in Region 9-Easton/Redding to see how well it can work. In Region 9 the towns MAINTAIN and run their own schools from Kindergarten through Eighth grade. Each town has their own BOE for the schools in their town. The two towns merge in High School at Joel Barlow where they have their own BOE as well. It does work and it can work if it is given a chance.

The Region 12 BOE has now added a third option-"triple renovation," which seems to be their version of "build to suit." It comes on the heels of the projected enrollment numbers for the next 10 years looking significantly lower that they expected. However, the idea of a regional elementary school in Roxbury is still being pushed forward as a "doable" option.

The Mundy property has significant limitations. It's not technically on the market and there is indication that it will be over priced. If the property does come forth as seemingly affordable, what will it cost to make it buildable? There are wetlands issues, the bridge needing to be built and a very long road to access the wet grounds. The proposed 3 story building is a strange concept for young children who are usually housed in level buildings. Do we have emergency and fire vehicles that can access the building? What about the single access road and the traffic issues that will need to be managed? The proposed parking and playing fields are not adequate due to the wetlands/run off issues, the septic and drainage seem limited. This property is also a know hunting ground, will we need bright orange uniforms? And if we can combat the stray bullets can we keep the tics and mosquitoes at bay? Will Roxbury be willing to approve all of these zoning and wetlands issues, and then ultimately fund it? We can never turn back from consolidation and the costs of it. It would be blind faith to throw away what we have now, that works and risk enormous cost overruns for the proposed single school advocated by a group that has not been completely forthcoming to the public with information.

The consolidators are running ads on educational value and economic savings. They will soon have a difficulty selling a regional elementary school, when the true numbers surface. As for the educational value of one school, the "21st Century" phenomena we keep hearing about.....the majority of the research on regional schools compared to smaller schools indicates that small is far superior to large, particularly for our younger population. In fact, many larger schools break their populations down into small schools within where they can be better managed and educated. Kids in large schools get lost and often don't get their needs met.
Losing our schools would be a tragedy, they are what make our towns so desired. I have spoken to many people about their decision to move here and they've said the small school and it's great reputation was what sold them. More recently, I'm already hearing of people who have considered moving here and backed out of buying when they learned of the potential for a consolidated school, rather than the existing small school.

There should be concern about the negative effects of a consolidation. Bridgewater would be the only town in our region and our state without a school. This will dramatically effect the culture and the economic value of our town, specifically property values. Losing our school would begin a downward spiral toward ending up at the bottom of the list of great small towns. In a recent article in Connecticut Magazine, Bridgewater was named the #2 small town. This proves that local education is a denominator in property value.

It is also important to note, Roxbury would ultimately pay the price for a consolidated school in their back yard. People would want to move where the school is, causing the per pupil percentage in Roxbury to increase as ours decreases. This would shift more of the fiscal burden to Roxbury leaving them to pay a higher percentage to the region. Is Roxbury prepared to carry the burden for Bridgewater and Washington?

If "one" is better, why not merge all three towns to have one Town Market, Post Office, Fire Department and Town Hall.....if saving money is what it's all about why not??? What would our towns be without their cultural and economic centers? Consolidation will negatively effect the economics of our town. This is not "nostalgia," this is fact, with research that stands behind it.

The Region 12 BOE has written in it goals, "The primary purpose of creating a regional school district is to combine the resources of more than one town to gain educational and fiscal advantage by working cooperatively. The Board of Education will continue to foster this cooperative concept as the way in which Bridgewater, Roxbury, Washington, and Region 12 will educate their children." I hope that the BOE can reflect upon it's goals and move forward with honest and fair representation of it's people, to it's people and do what is truly best for all of us, especially our children.

Shannon Tredennick, Bridgewater Resident