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06/06/2023 02:03 PMUpdates on the design and construction status of a new school in Madison will head to a public hearing on Thursday, June 15. Town officials are encouraging residents to attend.
The hearing, held during the normally scheduled Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, will allow residents to weigh in on the 87,000-square-foot school project approved earlier this year at a referendum. The project is part of an overall $89.2 million school renewal project that would replace Ryerson Elementary School, Jeffrey Elementary School, and the Town Campus Learning Center.
According to Graham Curtis, chair of the Elementary School Building Committee, the project is currently on track for 2024 groundbreaking, but there is still much ahead for the committee and the community before any decisions are set in stone. Officials hope the school will be completed and ready to open for the 2025 school year despite anticipated production and supply interruptions. Still, that date is still being determined and could shift as the process moves forward.
Curtis said there had been several meetings with neighboring property owners adjacent to the new site who raised concerns about traffic and other short and long-term issues with the project.
“The meeting on the 15th is a public hearing, and anyone who wants to show up and express an opinion on the project is encouraged and welcome to do so. We have already met extensively with neighbors already, so hopefully, we have addressed those concerns. The more outreach, the better,” said Curtis. “We are working with [First Selectman] Peggy [Lyons] to address these concerns, but we have a plan that we hope will develop within the next month.”
According to Lyons, the finalization process for the project is heading toward completion, but resident input is still being sought.
“We encourage everyone to come, especially people in the neighborhood who have concerns. These are the opportunities to raise any of the questions they have about the school, and about how it’s going to work with traffic, and what it’s going to look like. I know the building committee has done a lot of outreach with the neighbors…we want residents to be part of the conversation,” said Lyons.
There have been reports that the project is over budget; however, at this time, the committee is still in the design oversight process and seeking solutions on how to lower costs and balance the “wish list” for the project. According to Curtis, the project estimate is $5.8 million above the estimated costs, but that figure will likely decrease as design aspects are altered and materials costs are adjusted.
“There is a budget issue, but we are working that out simultaneously with the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance. We are also working with Peggy to figure out the best way to deal with that and have requested some additional funds from the state. Escalating costs in the market were expected, so we have a plan on how to deal with that. Peggy is kind of taking the lead on that aspect,” said Curtis.
Both elementary schools are currently on track to be open in 2025. The town will demolish the Ryerson school and the Town Campus Learning Center as part of that overall design. No plans have been announced for future use of those properties.
These plans are part of the Board of Education’s 10-Year $100 million Capital Maintenance Plan, adopted on June 19, 2018. The appropriated $89 million for the project currently includes $61 million for the new school, plus monies dedicated to renovations and improvements for the conversion of Brown Intermediate School to a K through 5th-grade facility and upgrades to the Polson School.
The Planning and Zoning public hearing will be on Thursday, June 15, at 7 p.m. and will be presented in a hybrid format. For more information and a link to the meeting, visit www.madisonct.org.