Board committee schedules special meeting to review draft educational specifications for possible new Wallingford High School

The Wallingford Board of Education operations committee agreed Monday to hold a virtual special meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, May 19, to begin detailed review of draft educational specifications for a potential new Wallingford High School.

The committee chair called for the item to be discussed and Superintendent Belizzi told the committee she expected consultants SLAM and Colliers to circulate a compiled questions-and-answers document to stakeholders by Friday and to use forum feedback in revisions. “Everything within the document is up for editing and discussion,” Belizzi said, and noted the decision about features such as a pool or planetarium had been left open in the draft.

The discussion matters because the district must balance educational program needs against fiscal constraints tied to state reimbursement rules. “The building at where it is right now based on everything we've put together reimbursable rate is for the number of students that we are projecting,” Belizzi said, adding that any space beyond the reimbursable rate would be funded locally: “if it's over that piece … the cost is on the piece that's over or the part that's over not reimbursable, is fully onto the taxpayer.”

Committee members said the draft is large and will require multiple sessions. Dr. Rasco said a dedicated meeting would be helpful rather than trying to handle the material at an already long regular meeting. Several members favored multiple shorter sessions or an initial virtual meeting so members and the public can participate without travel. Board members requested that each member come prepared with questions for the May 19 session.

Superintendent Belizzi and board members said the draft was assembled by building administrators and instructional leaders with input from two public forums. Belizzi directed members to the document’s initial pages for square-footage and building-size details and asked they submit edits so Colliers and SLAM can make adjustments.

The committee did not take a binding policy vote. Instead members reached consensus to schedule the special meeting and to circulate the compiled forum feedback by Friday. Next steps identified were (1) review the consultants’ revisions at the May 19 virtual session, (2) follow up with additional in-person sessions if needed, and (3) ensure financial implications tied to the reimbursement rate are highlighted in edits.

The committee also discussed public access: members said future sessions should include in-person options so the public can attend and hear deliberations, but the May 19 meeting will be virtual to maximize participation. No further formal actions were taken on program elements such as inclusion of a pool or planetarium; those remain open for board deliberation and consultant revision.