Schools chief prefers new school to fixing Long Lots
WESTPORT — Superintendent Thomas Scarice is recommending the district build a new school instead of renovating Long Lots ahead of a vote from the school board on the options for the elementary school.
The Board of Education is expected to vote next week on whether to take the next steps for renovating Long Lots or build a new structure on the same site — most likely where the athletic fields are.
That vote would only give officials the go-ahead on the needed preliminary studies for that approach, not actually commit the district to building new or renovating. Officials stressed there are still more steps and public involvement required before that point.
“It’s not a good candidate for renovation,” Scarice told the board Monday.
He listed a number of reasons, many of which are tied to the age of the building.
Long Lots was built in the 1950s. This means there is the potential for hazardous material, such as asbestos or lead paint, like any structure built at that time.
John Koplas, senior project manager at Colliers, the project management firm working with the district, said the state doesn’t allow abatement at elementary schools while children are in school and so there would have to be a phased approach if renovating.
“That also extends the timetable,” he said, adding new construction would take about 14 to 16 months and the phased approach would add eight to 14 months to that.
“You don’t really have swing space to relocate the children, too,” he said.
Scarice said the district was on schedule. If approved next week, the environmental and likely the traffic studies would be done this summer, with the education specifications and enrollment projections in the fall.
The district would likely file a grant application in June 2023, with an expected opening of September 2026.
He noted Long Lots likely wouldn’t be eligible for the grant reimbursement if renovated based on the state’s criteria.
The building’s age also leads to older HVAC and electrical systems, which are harder to replace as the parts become harder to find. Long Lots has multiple mechanical systems so Scarice said it would not be simple to replace it.
The windows, aging roof and other exterior features also lead to insulation issues,
which can affect temperatures and the ability to maintain them.
Officials are doing things in the meantime to address these issues to ensure the temperatures and humidity are in the appropriate range for the current use. This includes taking readings every 15 minutes and alerting school staff if a problem arises, especially with humidity, so someone can get ahead of it. There are also dehumidifiers throughout the school.
Mold concerns have previously been raised at the school, but Scarice said on Monday that all of the readings were good.
Long Lots was originally built as a middle school, which means the classrooms are smaller than the current standards Connecticut has for elementary schools. This makes it difficult for students to move around and collaborate with each other.
Renovating likely wouldn’t increase classroom sizes, officials said Monday.
Long Lots Principal Kimberly Ambrosio said the classrooms are generally less than 600 square feet and the state guidelines are for about 900 to 1,200 square feet.
She also said there are lighting issues, and the kindergarten classrooms lack their own bathrooms and space for all of the supplies and equipment usually found at that grade level.
“We want them to be able to explore and play,” she said.
Officials said the current building was inefficient, with a bigger auditorium and gym than an elementary school needs, leading to other areas being crowded and leaving the district to still heat these large spaces.
Neighbors again raised drainage concerns about the proposed new site for the school, saying it would worsen the flooding conditions they already experience with the nearby Muddy Brook and athletic fields.
Officials said those will be examined throughout the process and addressed by engineers.