New WPS at Shepaug - Presentation by SLAM

03/22/2008

Plan for New WPS Shown to Citizens

By: Ann Compton

Note: SLAM is the "Consolidation Architect" and the "attendees" below that are consolidators are shown in "RED" Is there conflict of interest? Where are the parents of the students in WPS. Why are they not attending?

WASHINGTON - Roughly 50 residents filled Bryan Memorial Town Hall Wednesday, March 19, to hear a conceptual plan for a new Washington Primary School on the Shepaug campus.

Town residents will be asked to choose between this plan and one to renovate the existing WPS in the Depot at a town meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3.
One of these two plans will be implemented if Region 12, consisting of Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington, opts to stay with three individual primary schools in each town rather than build a consolidated regional school.

The report, prepared by the S/L/A/M Collaborative and presented by Kevin Herrick, details a 41,000 square-foot building on the existing field hockey area of the Shepaug campus, which is owned by Region 12 and located within the Washington town boundary. The Gym is oversized at 5,850 Sq Ft. It sholuld be the same as Booth 4,300 Sq Ft. This is an easy compromise.

First Selectman Mark Lyon explained that the Shepaug site was chosen for the purpose of exploring the potential cost of a brand new school. The Board of Selectmen commissioned the Shepaug study after one was completed to renovate the existing WPS.

Discussion and questions from members of the public focused on comparison between the Shepaug plan and one to renovate the existing Washington Primary School located in the Depot within the 100-year flood plain, which virtually excludes such a project from most, if not all, state reimbursement.

Most residents at the meeting expressed support for a plan that would build a new, energy-efficient school over one to renovate an old, problem-laden, existing building.

A preliminary estimate on the renovation of the existing WPS is $13.1 million plus roughly $500,000 in additional costs. According to Mr. Herrick, a new, LEED-certified elementary school would cost the region around $15 million after state reimbursement, with a total cost before reimbursement of $18.8 million. The net of $15 million is $4 million higher than the WPS renovation and would be unacceptable to Bridgewater and Roxbury because it makes the total too high for the voters.

Since this would be a new building, Mr. Herrick said all costs would be eligible for state reimbursement at a discounted rate because of the small enrollment number.

Under that formula, 60 percent of the total 41,000 square-foot project's cost would be eligible for reimbursement, some $3.7 million.

Mr. Lyon explained that the Shepaug site was chosen for the purpose of exploring the potential cost of a brand new school and, if necessary, other sites could be considered. The Net proposal should be for $12 million after the removal of the HS/MS Septic and reduction of the Gym size with the site "to be determined".

He noted that $2.5 million is built into the conceptual plan budget for septic work that could be put toward the purchase of a new site if the Shepaug site is not used. This is not possible! If Washington wants a different site, it must pay for the land from town funds. Removing this from the proposal is an easy compromise.

Resident Peter Tagley pointed out that Shepaug was considered several years ago as a location for a consolidated primary school.

"That didn't go over well in many towns," he said. "Shepaug parents weren't happy with having another school on the grounds."

Mr. Tagley questioned whether the town of Washington or Region 12 would own the school. Presently, the elementary schools in Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington are owned by the towns and leased to the region.

Mr. Lyon replied that it is his assumption that a school built by the region on land owned by the region would belong to the region.

"That would be just fine; then I wouldn't have to go to lease negotiation meetings," he observed, referring to the ongoing and, so far, unsuccessful efforts to negotiate 20-year leases between the three towns and Region 12.

Despite Mr. Lyon's efforts to hold the discussion to a single primary school for Washington, the subject of consolidation continued to rear its head.

Most agreed any discussion on schools was incomplete without a comparison between which is a better option: three elementary schools in each town or one regional school for all.

This brought up the issue of costs.

Region 12 Building Committee member Jay Hubelbank noted that renovating three schools to new would cost millions more than the cost of building one regional school.

A recent report by CREC said that limited renovation of the three schools will cost nearly $6 million more than a consolidated Region 12 school.

A renovate-to-new plan for the three schools will run nearly $8 million more, according to Chris Charles of the Region 12 Building Committee.

Valerie Friedman pointed out that consolidation offers the opportunity to pay less money for maintenance and more on education.

"Three aging schools is three that need constant work," she stressed, adding that in an effort to keep costs to a figure taxpayers would accept, "corners have been cut right and left."

Carlos Canal questioned whether discussion of a new school for Washington might derail plans for a consolidated school - a concern to those who favor one regional school for all three towns.

Board of Education member Valerie Andersen responded that it could "cause the consolidated vote to become more confused than it is already."

A number of residents asked what the town would do with the current WPS if a new one is built.

Mr. Lyon said a committee has been formed to complete a preliminary investigation of that question and will begin meeting this week.

Mr. Canal asked whether Washington can decide if it wants to renovate or build new, or if that is a decision made by the region.

Board of Education member James Hirschfield said it is the town's choice which of the two plans to present to the region, although the final determination would be made by the region.

"There is some urgency to this, however," Mr. Hirschfield said. "The town must make a decision soon which plan it wants to put forward. You can't ask the [Region 12] Building Committee to consider both."

Mr. Lyon promised that an answer and the town's plan choice would be presented to the regional Building Committee following the upcoming town meeting on April 3 in Bryan Memorial Town Hall.