Town of Rocky Hill

Board of Education

Facilities Committee

May 23, 2006

Minutes of Meeting

 

 

A special meeting of the Facilities Committee of the Rocky Hill Board of Education was held on Tuesday, May 24, 2006, in the superintendent's conference room.  Present were:  Committee Chair Peter Arico; Committee Members Nadine Bell and Rene Rivard; Board Members: Mark Carberry and Neil Geldof; Gregory P. Turansky; and Supt. of Schools J. A. Camille Vautour.  The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m.

 

Sunny Crest Park

Dr. Vautour indicated that he had spoken to Town Manager Gilbert and informed her that the Facilities Committee of the Board would like to know the nature of the deed restrictions on Sunny Crest Park and whether or not they can be removed thereby allowing the land to be used for school purposes.  Mrs. Gilbert delivered copies of all the documents related to Sunny Crest Park.  Accompanying these materials was a letter to Attorney Joseph P. Fasi addressing the questions raised by the Facilities Committee.  Mrs. Gilbert has indicated that as soon as she receives a response she will make it available.

 

Excess Capacity

In discussing Options 4 & 5 of the Schoenhardt report at an earlier committee meeting, committee members asked for information on the amount of excess capacity that would exist and to what uses might such space be put.  Dr. Vautour indicated that in the event that Option 4 (new middle school) was selected, the Schoenhardt report suggested that there would be excess capacity to accommodate appropriately 200 students at the elementary level.  If Option 5 (new high school) were selected, in addition to the elementary space cited in Option 4, there would be excess capacity for approximately 220 students at the middle school level.

 

Committee members inquired as to possible uses of such excess capacity.  Dr. Vautour indicated he had met with the district’s administrators and a list of potential uses was identified.  The possibilities include the following.

  • Expansion of Bright Beginnings/Early Child Special Education programs
  • Creation of daycare center for children of town employees
  • Housing of Clinical Day and Alternate programs currently located at Connecticut Student Loan Foundation
  • Creation of literacy centers
  • Creation of regional special education diagnostic center
  • Creation of vocational kitchen for Life Skills Program - serving needs of seniors
  • Additional computer labs
  • Leasing of space to CREC, BESB and/or Soundbridge
  • Creation of supply/refurbishment center for science supplies/equipment
  • Creation of professional development center(s)
  • Creation of regional special education programs
  • Space for return of out-placed Rocky Hill special education students
  • Storage space

 

Operational Expenses for Two Vs. Three Elementary Schools

Mr. Turansky indicated that he had spoken to Mark Hopper of Schoendardt Architects on the question of cost differentials related to running two vs. three elementary schools.  Mr. Hopper indicated that for the most part, costs for basic utilities such as fuel, electricity, etc. are predicated on square footage, number of classrooms, etc.  consequently core utility costs would be basically the same in other scenarios.  Mr. Turansky did indicate that he had presented information on staffing and transportation differentials for two v. three schools at the March 14, 2006 Facilities Committee meeting.  To refresh everyone’s memory he reviewed his earlier observations.

K-5 Two Schools

  • Eliminate 1.0 FTE nurse
  • Eliminate .5 FTE secretary
  • Busing not impacted
  • Custodial services shifted
  • Reduction in food service staff
  • Maintain neighborhood school concept
  • Allows for comparisons, WH vs. MHS
  • Potential for curricular inconsistencies remain
  • Potential staff reductions
    • .5 FTE K
    • 1.0 FTE first grade
  • Requires redistricting on limited basis

 

Reconfiguration K-2/3-5 Two Schools

  • Eliminate 1.0 FTE nurse
  • Eliminate .5 FTE secretary
  • Busing not impacted
  • Custodial services reassigned
  • Reduction in food services staff
  • Potential instructional staff reductions (4.0 FTE)
  • Eliminates neighborhood schools
  • Eliminates potential for comparisons between schools
  • Potential for greater curricular consistency
  • Extensive redistricting change
  • Two transitions for all elementary students vs. only Moser now
  • Lack of older role models
  • Nature’s classroom

 

Reconfiguration K-1/2-3/3-5 Three Schools

  • Additional 1.0 FTE principal
  • Additional 1.5 FTE secretaries plus benefits for current part-time person
  • 2.0 FTE additional custodians plus 1.0 FTE from Moser
  • Transfer nurse from Moser
  • Increase in cafeteria staff
  • Potential reduction of instructional staff (4.0 FTE)

 

In closing, Mr. Arico confirmed that committee members support Option 5.  He submitted a draft statement and requested that committee members review it and propose changes for the next committee meeting.

 

The meeting adjourned 9:30 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

J. A. Camille Vautour

Recording Secretary

APPROVED BY:  _____________________________             DATE:  ________________________