Schools plan presented to East Lyme officials
Selectmen, Board of Finance get first look at plans to address aging elementary facilities
East Lyme — Selectmen and Board of Finance members got their first look Monday at the school board’s plan for the town’s elementary schools during a special information session in the Lillie B. Haynes School gymnasium.
The proposal calls for fully renovating the Lillie B. Haynes School, closing the Niantic Center School and deferring the rebuilding of Flanders Elementary School for five to seven years while providing some upgrades to the building.
According to the presentation by Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Newton and architecture firm Jacunski Humes LLC, the full renovations of Lillie B. Haynes would cost an estimated $45.06 million — or $34.25 million to the town, following expected state reimbursement.
The plan also proposes using up to $1.5 million to refurbish the Flanders Elementary School with upgrades to technology, furniture, light fixtures and the main entrance, according to the presentation.
Flanders could then be rebuilt in five to seven years, according to the latest student enrollment numbers.
Newton told the boards that the age of the facilities, their quality and declining student enrollment are the factors driving the project.
The Board of Education previously had been pursuing a plan to rebuild Flanders and fully renovate Niantic Center for an estimated cost of $82.75 million — or about $58.71 million following expected state reimbursement — but rescinded its vote in March and instead endorsed the new proposal.
At the presentation, Newton said
The proposal calls for fully renovating the Lillie B. Haynes School, closing the Niantic Center School and deferring the rebuilding of Flanders Elementary School for five to seven years while providing some upgrades to the building.
that while the town once thought it could use the Lillie B. Haynes building for town offices, “the vision is no longer there,” while Niantic Center could be leased, repurposed for town use or sold.
Newton said the previous plan offered equal size elementary schools and swing space, but would double the town’s current debt burden.
He said the new proposal would retain the town campus atmosphere.
He listed reasons why the plan proposes to work on Lillie B. Haynes first.
He said building a new Flanders school first would increase the project cost due to 10 percent less state reimbursement — at $35.9 million to the town for an 80,000-square-foot building.
Newton said that if the plan fails at referendum, there would be “some decisions that need to be made.”
He said Niantic Center School students could be moved into Lillie B. Haynes by adjusting parking, bus drop-off and interior spaces.
But he said that would mean none of the schools will be renovated and costs would be expected to be higher in the future.
After the presentation, Board of Finance members asked about the construction costs and contingency, state reimbursement and to quantify the value of the Niantic Center property.
Newton said he couldn’t quantify it but it could potentially be used for town purposes.
Selectwoman Rose Ann Hardy said construction can be disruptive to students’ learning, particularly for younger students’ attention spans.
She asked if construction could be done after school.
The architects said it’s possible, but would be more expensive.
Newton said the Board of Education is discussing options that include using modules, sectioning off the area of the building under construction or leaving Niantic Center open during construction.
Selectman Marc Salerno, who recently toured the schools, said he was having trouble wrapping his head around the $48 million cost to renovate Lillie B. Haynes.
He referenced a 2011 Kaestle Boos study of the facilities, which said Lillie B. Haynes needs about $8 million in repairs.
He also said he was concerned Flanders might not be able to handle another 7 years.
Architect Al Jacunski said the study is five years old. He said the cost estimates don’t include features such as HVAC installations.
First Selectman Mark Nickerson said the town needs to do something about the elementary school buildings, but said the original plan was too expensive.
He also said it would have cost additional money to then redo Lillie B. Haynes for town purposes.
Dawn Rodes, one of several parents at the meeting, said she has safety concerns about children potentially learning in a “construction zone” and that Lillie B. Haynes lacks adequate playground space for the additional students.
She also said the $35.75 million overall project cost does not take into account the future costs to rebuild Flanders.
Officials plan to hold a community forum in the future.
The plan is expected to go to a referendum vote in the fall, if approved by the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance.