Selectmen approve purchase of West Street building for special-education program; Board of Finance to hold public hearing

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen approved the purchase of the building adjacent to Simsbury High School on West Street and authorized a contract to be executed after a public hearing by the Board of Finance.

The transaction, discussed during the Simsbury Aging & Disability Commission meeting, is intended to house a district-run special-education pathways program for identified students who district staff say would benefit from being educated in-district rather than in outplacement programs. Diana (Board of Selectmen liaison) said the purchase is meant to “bring back in district” students already identified for this specific program when returning would be appropriate for the students.

Why it matters: Diana told commissioners that costs for outplaced students are high and rising. She said two of the six students identified for this program are currently costing the town about $1,000,000 per year in tuition and transportation. She added that the estimated total cost associated with bringing the six students in-house is “probably two and a half to $3,000,000.” Diana also said the modular classrooms behind the high school that currently house some students are outdated and that replacing those modulars would cost about $2,000,000.

Diana said the high-school-level students would benefit from shared on-campus resources — resource teachers, speech and occupational therapy, behavioral supports and, when appropriate, access to regular education classes — and that placing the program next to the high school would reduce transportation costs. She said the plan aims for fall 2025 implementation if approvals and planning proceed on schedule.

The purchase and contract will next be considered at a Board of Finance public hearing scheduled this week at the library, Diana said; the hearing is the forum where the public can ask questions and raise concerns about the purchase price and contract terms. Diana repeated that the Board of Selectmen approved the purchase price and authorized executing the contract after the finance board’s public hearing.

Details provided in the meeting were limited to the rationale above; the specific purchase price and final contract terms were not given during the commission meeting. Commissioners and members of the public were directed to the upcoming Board of Finance public hearing for detailed financial and contractual information.

Notes: The discussion occurred as part of the Board of Selectmen report during the Aging & Disability Commission meeting; commissioners asked about total outplacement counts and the size of projected savings but were told some numbers would be supplied by district staff at the appropriate forums.