[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6047595,"mediaKeyId","3531580-9b419088f093e6a1c418482461112a0a","parentId",3531580,"title","Residents say funding, town support and clear numbers are needed before committing to consolidation","audioSeconds",4592,"startMs",737000,"endMs",5329000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3531580-9b419088f093e6a1c418482461112a0a&start=737&end=5329","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3531580-9b419088f093e6a1c418482461112a0a/thumbnail_737000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6047595/Connecticut/Residents-say-funding-town-support-and-clear-numbers-are-needed-before-committing-to-consolidation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047595-ae66145a4edb06b35b254fa381cb8fe2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149737&Signature=J8IuaFqjQCsGsXv3trqdxcyCMX68795~RZqw5yqRuglUsQqgVKCvzJvTWWn8vkZW1YSvOGPubWE~wmyNsX9EbZ-JbeOuJi86Uf0Np8SFn9mpjdtLPvZT1aU~Ehb62WRHeHtN5l~hSaDRMcjLrIkI-UonxmEL5d63CwW-5dQVbzvEpWyP4NqwraEROq--Nja4b6dc8oQzj7AbRGrOHiPt5bgCZ4thKrCh70cBlK-aF18ab00w2rbbGDbVX6XfrMP-CqBzx7mS02jU1ZDPNiCPIKpiMtGEBUjRYE9LV7JTwqEPARn3zBGGlFZyxCBWhfzodniCe~7l6yPk8YmqpBvmmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wallingford Public Schools","date","2025-04-24T00:00:00Z","article","At the April 23 community forum, residents repeatedly raised the need for clear cost information, a town funding strategy and visible commitment from municipal leaders before Wallingford advances a plan to consolidate high schools.

Roxanne McKay, a longtime former board chair, said she supports consolidation in principle but criticized what she called long stagnation and urged the board to engage the town council and mayor about financial support because the council controls the \"purse strings.\" Audience members and speakers urged the district to produce direct, comparable cost estimates for renovating both current high schools versus constructing a single new building.

Superintendent Belizzi said the district is following the board's February 2023 vote to pursue consolidation and that detailed renovation‑vs‑new cost comparisons could be prepared after the board approves ed specs if the board requests them. She said district staff had presented budget materials to the town council and that the district is tracking enrollment, state reimbursement rules and grant opportunities.

Several residents said the board should be more proactive in communicating with taxpayers who do not have children in the schools; they argued those voters will ultimately fund any capital project. Rob Fritz, who said he represents taxpayers without school‑aged children, warned that rising taxes and broader demographic trends require realistic budgeting. Forum speakers asked the district to produce clearer visual comparisons (current vs. proposed spaces), estimates of renovation costs for both schools and a timetable for when the board expects to make firm decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wallingford Public Schools Educational Specifications Community Forum - April 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Many forum attendees urged the board to present clear cost estimates and a town funding plan before advancing a consolidation project, saying taxpayers and the town council must be engaged early and given concrete comparisons between renovating two schools and building one new facility.","taxTitle","Wallingford School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",38279,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6047600,"CTE and ASTE programming remain central to debate over consolidation; district highlights concurrent‑enrollment partnerships",1796,2697000,4493000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3531580-9b419088f093e6a1c418482461112a0a&start=2697&end=4493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3531580-9b419088f093e6a1c418482461112a0a/thumbnail_2697000.jpg","/articles/6047600/Connecticut/CTE-and-ASTE-programming-remain-central-to-debate-over-consolidation-district-highlights-concurrentenrollment-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047600-03b87d597683397989c4865c9f15353a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149737&Signature=doxRRQhkCSFDpvvmrdPYQvjZbKx7SQjtuSIXTrIFgvfyKwL-ubjHbvd4isAo7H4Xz8lEedz22iLWPpYexmStmjV~EUk9UbR9I413ZbHPROZ2II8Dvb0mLbbToO2NYwKC9iwutet76RAILM-gUz5gavjOgO25quV49WiTK~GQbvBIJXLAIYcnQS8umn-EwqEphNsXLrBIRDe-a5ekdpSw3w3I8LKuQ0CxDoqXEOB0o~O753K1ZqlXU6K3UVETF8H7RyjfOvgex-5kBVAiX1T2O0encY~agJHVALKr44sUxqT8WeeMR~DCMwnnOXo1eKMv0aw7cdIw7C-2JM6ZHPZbow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several speakers at the April 23 forum highlighted career‑technical education and the district’s ASTE (agricultural science and technical education) pathway as programs the community wants preserved or expanded if the district consolidates high schools.

CTE coordinator Mr. Ullman (identified in the forum) and Superintendent Belizzi described how CTE pathways — carpentry/wood shop, culinary, architecture, computer science, child development and health‑care pathways such as CNA preparation — each require different space and equipment. Ullman and Belizzi said the ed specs reflect larger dedicated spaces for some CTE pathways because those programs have specific machinery, safety zones and prep space requirements.

Belizzi said the ASTE agricultural program currently housed at Lyman Hall would not be eliminated. She noted ASTE carries separate grant eligibility; if a consolidated site is chosen, the district would revise ASTE specifications, solicit stakeholder feedback and pursue state or grant funding for that program’s facilities. Multiple community members urged retention and enhancement of hands‑on trade pathways and called for outreach to local employers to maintain relationships and grow opportunities.

On postsecondary credit opportunities, district staff said Wallingford already offers concurrent‑enrollment courses through partnerships with the University of Bridgeport, Southern Connecticut State University and several community colleges. The district reported students currently leave high school with roughly 6–12 college credits on average, and the district continues to expand those offerings.

Speakers asked whether the district could expand dual‑enrollment or degree‑granting opportunities; staff said current models use vetted high‑school instructors approved by partner colleges to grant college credit and that future expansion would be considered as part of program planning.","Forum speakers discussed career‑technical (CTE) pathways and the ASTE agricultural program while district staff described existing concurrent‑enrollment agreements with community colleges and universities.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6047605,"Teachers and parents at Wallingford forum raise concerns about classroom sizes, staff and student supports in draft ed specs",2050,1814000,3864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3531580-9b419088f093e6a1c418482461112a0a&start=1814&end=3864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3531580-9b419088f093e6a1c418482461112a0a/thumbnail_1814000.jpg","/articles/6047605/Connecticut/Teachers-and-parents-at-Wallingford-forum-raise-concerns-about-classroom-sizes-staff-and-student-supports-in-draft-ed-specs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047605-04a2dad6245cafb3923eb147fd4646c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149737&Signature=I23zBqz1BVfkuiBZQEc6uJ-hhuwQuGacVIhQ94HbuMxAPiaKPlxzaDhKj5PcfwuUPTeRGq8Tjx1hg6G3aXZ-HSVLlOESKj8v1BZmJ8t2rfANPEXcfQoLQOhA0mJDyt6nFindzgqmuFEw8ZZ7j0IcnTOwKqFncjbFXKqrhsToaaY-yZ3MaKNACJ309nvgyedQCY6us6as8yLLMvL6AFU03F5Yvw-fl7nwoSq7SKSNXJPIbfom7zn1oq4gYpcCXU9E5c15XwEpoduLn6IKhynBB1waKDz1cM0qupLJw5v37-zcG4Eg3VOb1epnGm6kjHQYGR~~j7XlMc~Ee8jhGmPhXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Teachers, parents and students at the April 23 forum pressed district leaders on design choices in the draft ed specs, expressing concern that proposed shared workspaces, smaller classroom footprints and staffing levels could weaken instruction and student supports if the district consolidates to one high school.

Multiple teachers told the board they prefer teachers to have dedicated classrooms and private work space for planning, student conferences and confidential parent calls. Christina Allen, a high‑school teacher, said classroom sizes in the draft struck her as \"really small\" and said losing a teacher's personal classroom would hinder after‑school help and small‑group work. Several speakers echoed that shared \"pods\" and one phone bank would not meet day‑to‑day needs.

Teachers and parents also questioned counselor and security staffing in the draft: one handout shows eight school counseling offices and a single administrative assistant, down from the combined total at two schools. Forum commenters said higher counselor caseloads would worsen challenges for students with mental‑health needs. Residents urged the district to prioritize additional counselors and to plan carefully for the social and emotional impacts of consolidation, particularly during student transitions.

Participants raised operational questions about food service and auditorium capacity: the draft lists a cafeteria with roughly 400 seats (which would require multiple lunch waves for a 1,600‑student building) and an auditorium sized to seat roughly half the student body. Community members asked for clearer comparisons with current facilities at Lyman Hall and Sheehan and for floor plans that show net gains or losses in key spaces.

Superintendent Belizzi and district staff repeatedly answered that the ed specs are a starting point to be refined in design phases. Belizzi said the specifications will be updated in response to public feedback, changes in enrollment and final decisions about site and scope.","Teachers, parents and students raised questions about proposed classroom footprints, shared teacher workspaces (\"pods\"), counselor and security staffing, and mental‑health supports in the district's draft educational specifications for a potential consolidated high school.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6047611,"Wallingford forum reviews draft educational specifications for proposed single high school",2504,188000,2692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3531580-9b419088f093e6a1c418482461112a0a&start=188&end=2692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3531580-9b419088f093e6a1c418482461112a0a/thumbnail_188000.jpg","/articles/6047611/Connecticut/Wallingford-forum-reviews-draft-educational-specifications-for-proposed-single-high-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047611-c76ea5ee79024f4d7c1461780cdf2bec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149737&Signature=UxZuO3Zo7AS6IL1gTb8TqAgJNVPC3bdlVsHJZznCv7VAhn5bhjDOG5N5Fq47oLMqrDix2WDlLxhosOewy05QmA-n2Ns3TEvivH2HlAwmA05SAW13S09Bpu~d7AvmOZJEdSNKMEwM21yq1U9Ove1Rp7w0z9N-twGeG1hk47feO2zF26gpRJh4qQFVduVOOqlVU8xyQUtoYM5VtrxGcMs7u3zd1W596MCgiNnErE6rSLF7ZO2kBoN4kwvFk9NGTWkLmbMpWCQXIv8Y99FHmDcyuUZRolwDFZWP~0Fqt9HH1g-qHE7OxmJwrWuNsV-agJBLX25zREtrHMVs7o5bmrRCfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wallingford Board of Education and district staff presented draft educational specifications on April 23 as the next step in a multi‑year process to evaluate a potential consolidation of the town’s two high schools into a single facility. The forum, held at Lyman Hall, was framed as an opportunity for residents to review the ed specs prepared with consultant Colliers and to give feedback before the board votes on final specifications.

Superintendent Belizzi said the consolidation discussion dates to 2016 and that multiple studies and enrollment analyses followed, including a consultant engagement in 2018 and a board decision in February 2023 to pursue consolidation based on declining enrollment, aging facilities and program equity. She said Colliers and SLAM assisted with the ed specs and that district staff, building administrators and instructional leaders helped define the programming and space needs reflected in the draft.

Nick Crusoe, facilitator and associate executive director for field services and technology at the Connecticut Association for Boards of Education (CABE), opened the forum and urged speakers to focus comments on the ed specs. The specifications document is posted on the district website and available by QR code at the forum, Belizzi said; a second community forum is scheduled for May 3 with childcare provided.

Belizzi and district staff said the ed specs translate program goals — core academics, electives, CTE pathways and special programs — into rough space and capacity targets that are intended to guide site selection, schematic design and later cost estimating. The administrators emphasized the ed specs are \"living\" guidance: the board can amend them after community feedback and before any final design or construction decisions.

The district also flagged that many steps remain before construction: site selection, design, grant or state funding decisions, town approval of capital funding and detailed cost comparisons (including renovating both schools versus building new). Belizzi said the board will continue to monitor enrollment projections and adjust specifications as needed.

Residents and staff were invited to comment on the draft ed specs; the board said it will collect feedback at the two forums and consider revisions at upcoming board meetings before a formal vote on the specifications.","At a community forum April 23, Wallingford school leaders and consultants reviewed draft educational specifications (\"ed specs\") that would guide a possible consolidation of the district's two high schools into one. Officials emphasized the document is a starting point and solicited community feedback on space, programming and timeline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents say funding, town support and clear numbers are needed before committing to consolidation

CTE and ASTE programming remain central to debate over consolidation; district highlights concurrent‑enrollment partnerships

Teachers and parents at Wallingford forum raise concerns about classroom sizes, staff and student supports in draft ed specs

Wallingford forum reviews draft educational specifications for proposed single high school