BRIDGEWATER-ROXBURY-WASHINGTON — The Region 12 Board of Education, meeting Monday, September 16, heard from the selectmen of the three member towns about their perspectives on what costs should appear on the referendum questions for the Shepaug Middle High School renovations and plans to consolidate the region’s three elementary schools.
Superintendent Dr. Patricia E. Cosentino showed a two-minute clip from the June 17 school board meeting that dictated the details of the options. Board members will eventually have to vote on an option for repairs to the middle high school and plans for the consolidation.
“In the heat of things people get a little excited,” said Dr. Cosentino. “I just want to share that I did bring that [the options] to the table. But we always knew that the board would have to make a decision on what they wanted to do.”
The three first selectmen were in agreement that the board needs to decide on something soon because the process has been going on too long. However they were not in agreement with the consolidation of the three schools.
Washington First Selectman Mark Lyon said the board was looking at option 2B and praised Anthony Amato’s extensive research on the numbers involved.
Option 2B is the option to consolidate the region’s three elementary schools.
“I think it would be naive and putting your head in the sand if any of us were to sit here and say what it was going to be like in 10 years,” said Mr. Lyon. “I think we have to put forth a plan that is going to address the educational needs of our students at the most cost-effective way for the next five to 10 years.”
Mr. Lyon said the board should look into a pre-kindergarten through grade 5 elementary school for the region and address the needs of the Shepaug Middle High School facility.
Roxbury First Selectman Barbara Henry reminded the board that the first selectmen had asked the board to send the consolidation option to a referendum.
Ms. Henry thought board members agreed on a cost estimate of $49 million and remembers that it would be $20 million to bring the middle high school to current standards.
“Take this to the people and let them vote,” said Ms. Henry. “Enough of these long range plans ... it just keeps going around and around. If we don’t vote on something, we are just going to keep on going around.
“Lately it doesn’t appear that we are any closer. You obviously have to put a number out there. But somebody needs to come up with a firm number that we can take it to the three towns and let them vote; then go from there.”
Bridgewater First Selectman William T. Stuart agreed with Ms. Henry that vote on the consolidation option needs to be soon.
“We thought this building was going to be put back in terrific shape and there was going to be a small building here [an elementary school on the Shepaug campus] for the young people,” said Mr. Stuart.
“I thought that’s what we were getting with the $49 million. The people of Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington need to vote on that. You need to hear what they say.
Here we are four or five months later. You wanted our advice. We gave you our advice and you made a motion to go with our advice and now you are backing out. That’s the way I look at it.”
Board member Valerie Andersen said it was her firm impression that they were talking a major reconstruction at the middle high school as well as building a pre-kindergarten through grade 5 building.
“Give or take the numbers; we need that to be figured out by the architects,” Ms. Andersen said. “I do believe that the total package is going to be much more palpable with the Pre-K to grade 5.
“I know we are going over those numbers in a week or so and solidifying what is going to happen up here [at the middle high school].”
“These numbers have to be real and they have to come soon,” said Ms. Henry. “I am concerned about coming back and coming back again.”
Mr. Lyon thinks it would be unwise to invest millions of dollars in renovations to facilities if the population of the towns is decreasing. However, he said, something needs to be done.
“I think it would be prudent to the region to look at what it’s going to provide for good education to students for the next 10 years,” said Mr. Lyon.
Board member Alan Brown said he is concerned toward the next 20 years, because he does not like the notion of short-term projects.
“If we are changing our prediction to five years, that does reduce our long-term planning quite a bit,” said Mr. Brown. “But then it also makes option one pretty good.”
Ms. Henry explained that the buildings in disrepair are not the only issues; the economy plays a key role and many people are leaving the state.
She said those details need to be a part of the equation for the board’s decision.
“You have to re-figure these numbers and they have to be good,” said Ms. Henry. “Then bring in the people to let them know what they are voting on.
“Whatever it is, then you can move forward. You can’t keep clouding the issue because we are all confused.”
Audience members said the board is creating a burden on resident by concentrating on multiple issues. They suggested focusing at one issue at a time in order to get something accomplished.
Dr. Cosentino said the board is still not ready to discuss repair work for the middle high school because no final decisions has been made.
Allyson O’Hara, the region’s director of pupil services, gave an update on the progress of the REACH program.
There 28 students in the program; 15 are in the extended day program; the rest are in the program half day.
“We got off to a great start,” said Ms. O’Hara. “We have two classrooms total. Right now they are getting to know Washington Primary and the classrooms.”
The program has five or six more students than last year.
Ms. O’Hara said there has been positive feedback from parents and students.
“They have done an excellent job including them [REACH students] into their school,” said Dr. Cosentino. “It’s made an impact not only on their students but also on the rest of WPS. They really bring joy and life to the building.”
A video on the summer programs is available on the region’s youtube channel or on Channel 17. Dr. Cosentino said the video is about 15 minutes and it gives an idea of what went on during the summer.
“It was a very big success and when you see the video there is a very positive light,” said Dr. Cosentino. “It was really great for the kids who love technology.”
Shepaug Middle-High School Principal Kim Gallo spoke the board the enrollment in the Virtual High School is 18 students. Two student are studying video game design; one is in engineering for sustainable energy; two in forensic science; one in AP government and politics, nine in AP computer science, one in German and two in AP statistics.
The new schedule has been implemented for the middle-high school and has not caused many issues for students.
“There were a few kids in the office looking for schedule changes,” said Ms. Gallo. “Some of them for good reasons and some for social reasons.
“The feedback from kids are more classes, so more stress, but I think they are doing okay.”
She said teachers and administrators will be monitoring students’ progress to make sure student’s concerns are heard. They will be doing some reports on the fluctuation of class sizes.
“We started off in good shape,” said Ms. Gallo. “We are in better shape now once we said no to the social reasons and yes to the academic reasons. Things are looking very nicely in the high and middle school.”
The TV studio is currently being built, according to Karen Fildes, the instructional technology specialist. Once the REACH group moved out, the studio moved right in.
The computers are ready to be put in and the broadcasting equipment will be installed during the week of October 12.
Once the equipment is set up, the region can live-stream school board meetings and can broadcast onto AT&T U-Verse.
“Our Channel 17 will become very different after that date,” said Ms. Fildes. “I also have a student intern that is helping me with the studio. We are hoping to get students in there as soon as we can.”
The superintendent’s report included news on hiring the last personnel; Marcus Oates, the technology teacher at the middle-high school, and Kimberly Harrison, the college and career coordinator.
Superintendent Dr. Patricia E. Cosentino showed a two-minute clip from the June 17 school board meeting that dictated the details of the options. Board members will eventually have to vote on an option for repairs to the middle high school and plans for the consolidation.
“In the heat of things people get a little excited,” said Dr. Cosentino. “I just want to share that I did bring that [the options] to the table. But we always knew that the board would have to make a decision on what they wanted to do.”
The three first selectmen were in agreement that the board needs to decide on something soon because the process has been going on too long. However they were not in agreement with the consolidation of the three schools.
Option 2B is the option to consolidate the region’s three elementary schools.
“I think it would be naive and putting your head in the sand if any of us were to sit here and say what it was going to be like in 10 years,” said Mr. Lyon. “I think we have to put forth a plan that is going to address the educational needs of our students at the most cost-effective way for the next five to 10 years.”
Mr. Lyon said the board should look into a pre-kindergarten through grade 5 elementary school for the region and address the needs of the Shepaug Middle High School facility.
Roxbury First Selectman Barbara Henry reminded the board that the first selectmen had asked the board to send the consolidation option to a referendum.
Ms. Henry thought board members agreed on a cost estimate of $49 million and remembers that it would be $20 million to bring the middle high school to current standards.
“Take this to the people and let them vote,” said Ms. Henry. “Enough of these long range plans ... it just keeps going around and around. If we don’t vote on something, we are just going to keep on going around.
“Lately it doesn’t appear that we are any closer. You obviously have to put a number out there. But somebody needs to come up with a firm number that we can take it to the three towns and let them vote; then go from there.”
Bridgewater First Selectman William T. Stuart agreed with Ms. Henry that vote on the consolidation option needs to be soon.
“We thought this building was going to be put back in terrific shape and there was going to be a small building here [an elementary school on the Shepaug campus] for the young people,” said Mr. Stuart.
“I thought that’s what we were getting with the $49 million. The people of Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington need to vote on that. You need to hear what they say.
Here we are four or five months later. You wanted our advice. We gave you our advice and you made a motion to go with our advice and now you are backing out. That’s the way I look at it.”
Board member Valerie Andersen said it was her firm impression that they were talking a major reconstruction at the middle high school as well as building a pre-kindergarten through grade 5 building.
“Give or take the numbers; we need that to be figured out by the architects,” Ms. Andersen said. “I do believe that the total package is going to be much more palpable with the Pre-K to grade 5.
“I know we are going over those numbers in a week or so and solidifying what is going to happen up here [at the middle high school].”
“These numbers have to be real and they have to come soon,” said Ms. Henry. “I am concerned about coming back and coming back again.”
Mr. Lyon thinks it would be unwise to invest millions of dollars in renovations to facilities if the population of the towns is decreasing. However, he said, something needs to be done.
“I think it would be prudent to the region to look at what it’s going to provide for good education to students for the next 10 years,” said Mr. Lyon.
Board member Alan Brown said he is concerned toward the next 20 years, because he does not like the notion of short-term projects.
“If we are changing our prediction to five years, that does reduce our long-term planning quite a bit,” said Mr. Brown. “But then it also makes option one pretty good.”
Ms. Henry explained that the buildings in disrepair are not the only issues; the economy plays a key role and many people are leaving the state.
She said those details need to be a part of the equation for the board’s decision.
“You have to re-figure these numbers and they have to be good,” said Ms. Henry. “Then bring in the people to let them know what they are voting on.
“Whatever it is, then you can move forward. You can’t keep clouding the issue because we are all confused.”
Audience members said the board is creating a burden on resident by concentrating on multiple issues. They suggested focusing at one issue at a time in order to get something accomplished.
Dr. Cosentino said the board is still not ready to discuss repair work for the middle high school because no final decisions has been made.
Allyson O’Hara, the region’s director of pupil services, gave an update on the progress of the REACH program.
There 28 students in the program; 15 are in the extended day program; the rest are in the program half day.
“We got off to a great start,” said Ms. O’Hara. “We have two classrooms total. Right now they are getting to know Washington Primary and the classrooms.”
The program has five or six more students than last year.
Ms. O’Hara said there has been positive feedback from parents and students.
“They have done an excellent job including them [REACH students] into their school,” said Dr. Cosentino. “It’s made an impact not only on their students but also on the rest of WPS. They really bring joy and life to the building.”
A video on the summer programs is available on the region’s youtube channel or on Channel 17. Dr. Cosentino said the video is about 15 minutes and it gives an idea of what went on during the summer.
“It was a very big success and when you see the video there is a very positive light,” said Dr. Cosentino. “It was really great for the kids who love technology.”
Shepaug Middle-High School Principal Kim Gallo spoke the board the enrollment in the Virtual High School is 18 students. Two student are studying video game design; one is in engineering for sustainable energy; two in forensic science; one in AP government and politics, nine in AP computer science, one in German and two in AP statistics.
The new schedule has been implemented for the middle-high school and has not caused many issues for students.
“There were a few kids in the office looking for schedule changes,” said Ms. Gallo. “Some of them for good reasons and some for social reasons.
“The feedback from kids are more classes, so more stress, but I think they are doing okay.”
She said teachers and administrators will be monitoring students’ progress to make sure student’s concerns are heard. They will be doing some reports on the fluctuation of class sizes.
“We started off in good shape,” said Ms. Gallo. “We are in better shape now once we said no to the social reasons and yes to the academic reasons. Things are looking very nicely in the high and middle school.”
The TV studio is currently being built, according to Karen Fildes, the instructional technology specialist. Once the REACH group moved out, the studio moved right in.
The computers are ready to be put in and the broadcasting equipment will be installed during the week of October 12.
Once the equipment is set up, the region can live-stream school board meetings and can broadcast onto AT&T U-Verse.
“Our Channel 17 will become very different after that date,” said Ms. Fildes. “I also have a student intern that is helping me with the studio. We are hoping to get students in there as soon as we can.”
The superintendent’s report included news on hiring the last personnel; Marcus Oates, the technology teacher at the middle-high school, and Kimberly Harrison, the college and career coordinator.
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