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01/05/2016 10:48 AM

WIS $88.2M Hybrid School Jumps Ahead


The project's hybrid model, seen here in an architectural rendering, includes renovating a portion of the exisiting WIS school building (shaded area), removing the media center and open classrooms at back, and building on a new addition (un-shaded area) as instructional space.Pam Johnson/The Sound

With last night's unanimous vote from the Board of Finance (BOF), town approval for bonding a $88.2 million "hybrid" renovation/addition for Walsh Intermediate School has jumped ahead and appears to be racing toward the finish line.

Tomorrow night, two Representative Town Meeting (RTM) committees convene a special meeting to review the BOF recommendation and vote. The RTM committee votes, expected to be favorable, will then be forwarded to the full RTM for a final vote that will decide if the town will undertake the $88.2 million WIS project. The full RTM vote is expected to take place at the Jan. 13 RTM meeting. 

Indications that the project is poised to move quickly through town channels includes a prefunctory review of the project that is already set to reach the Planning and Zoning Commission this week, at its Jan. 7 meeting.  The last item under New Business on the night's agenda is "To review and, if appropriate, approve the proposal for the renovation and expansion of Walsh Intermediate School project pursuant to Section CGS 8-24 of the General Statutes."

The BOF's Jan. 4 vote to recommend bonding $88.2 million for the project follows the Dec. 16 unanimous selection of the WIS hybrid model by the Board of Education (see the story at http://www.zip06.com/news/20151217/boe-backs-wis-hybrid-building-model) With state reimbursments, the WIS hybrid model is expected to have a final cost to the town of approximately $56 million.

The RTM Education Committee and Ways and Means Committee will meet jointly at 7 p.m. at Branford Community House on Jan. 6.