Notes lack of support for regional consolidation

Published 6:35 pm, Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Before you get too excited about solving Washington's need for a new elementary school by creating a new regional elementary school, perhaps town voting should be involved.

We moved from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, changing jobs, because of the school situation.

We rented in New Milford until we could buy a house in Bridgewater or Roxbury, where our children could walk to school and enjoy nearby playmates.

We strongly believed this would help their development and life achievements.

Ray and I both had enjoyed this freedom while growing up in a small New Jersey community.

Railroad tracks there separated the town so there were elementary schools north of the tracks and south of the tracks.

Let's have Roxbury and Bridgewater vote on this situation. We may wish to join another town's elementary school.

I am 90 but am interested in school issues and how their expenditures affect our retired income.

Barbara Hunicke

Roxbury

In Region 12: School Board Hears Schedule for Sessions

by Loumarie I. Rodriguez

Published:

Wednesday, January 15, 2014 7:06 AM EST

BRIDGEWATER-ROXBURY-WASHINGTON — The Region 12 Board of Education, meeting Monday, January 6, viewed a presentation regarding the mission and vision for Region 12 schools and discussed a draft schedule for the next information sessions on the consolidated elementary school proposal.


Superintendent Dr. Patricia Cosentino went over a schedule with the board for when Fletcher-Thompson and ARCADIS will present information. She said that at the end of January and in February there will be information sessions for all three towns regarding plans and conceptual designs of the consolidated elementary school.
A meeting is planned at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 18, at Washington Primary School for residents who could not attend the meetings in December on the future of education in Region 12.


“The meeting could be for seniors who felt it was to late at night to go to the previous meetings,” said Dr. Cosentino. “We will make sure that we do a good job of publicity and make sure everyone gets that information.”


Residents attending the Saturday meeting can have a conversation with the architects and project manager on what they would like to see in a new consolidated elementary school.


Administrators and other Region 12 staff members will discuss the proposed Pre-K to grade 5 elementary school building at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, January 23, at Roxbury Town Hall.


There will be four information session on the consolidated Pre-K to Grade 5 elementary school and proposed repairs to Shepaug Valley Middle High School in February for all three towns.


The Washington information session will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 4; at 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 5, in Roxbury; and at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 6, in Bridgewater.


Locations of the three meetings have not been determined.


The fourth meeting, at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 8, will be in the library at Shepaug Middle High School.


At the four meetings representatives of Fletcher-Thompson and the project manager will show residents three conceptual designs. Then, at 7 p.m. Monday, February 24, in the Shepaug library, Fletcher-Thompson will present a draft of the conceptual design and cost estimates for the Pre-K to Grade 5 consolidated elementary school.


Finally, at its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 3, the Board of Education will vote on whether to approve the cost estimates and the conceptual design.


If both are approved, the proposed date of a referendum on the questions is Tuesday, April 8.


“The draft of the referendum questions, as developed by the bond counsel, including the amendment of the plan for the new Pre-K school and repairs for Shepaug; if that doesn’t happen on March 3, we will come back March 6,” Dr. Cosentino said. “Then, hopefully, we will be able to get the board to make a motion.”


Dr. Cosentino said if there is no approval of the referendum questions by March 6, the referendum will have to be pushed into May.


Emily Judd, principal at Washington Primary School, gave a presentation on the mission and vision for the Region 12 school system.
The presentation included participation from the board members who listed words on what they hope the region will become.


“The reason why we took a look at the mission statement is because we are in a state of change,” said Ms. Judd. “It’s not just this district, but education in general and Common Core.


“We are all really trying to figure out what is our direction.”
During the activity, board member Susan Stumpf offered the idea of wanting optimum student achievement and Greg Cava agreed.


Mr. Cava said the region’s current mission statement is too diverse and there is too much stuff in it.


Ms. Judd suggested a simpler mission statement; one that could be memorized.
Board member Michelle Gorra said she is thrilled that Ms. Judd is working on the mission statement for the schools and wants to make sure there are no conflicting missions and visions for the schools.


Dr. Cosentino gave copies to all board members of a new policy regarding the school construction cost estimate.


The policy informs that all districts submitting a grant application for school construction on or after January 1, 2014, with total costs exceeding an estimate of $2 million, will be required to submit project costs estimates.


This will allow for a detailed analysis of school construction cost estimates and construction cost management.


The policy further outlines the purpose of the estimates needed to create the design plans for a consolidated elementary school.


“I think it’s important that everyone looks it over so they are aware of the policy and understand the importance of getting real numbers before you go to referendum,” Dr. Cosentino said.


Dr. Cosentino explained that following the policy insures the region will have a project that could be reimbursed by the state. She also said the board is currently in compliance with the policy.


The board passed several motions including one negotiations with All Star 
Transportation, acceptance of the 2013 fiscal year annual audit report and the first reading of an alcohol- and drug-free workplace policy.


Board member Peter Tagley suggested the board see if there are other transportation companies that may offer better pricing in order to show residents they are trying to 
lower costs.


Robert Giesen, the region’s business manager, said the region should stick to All Star Transportation because there is a risk when accepting bids from other companies. There is a possibility prices could sky rocket for transportation if the region cancels its current contract with All Star.


Board member Valerie Andersen agreed that although looking at other companies would look good for the board, the risk isn’t worth it.