Board of Selectmen recommends purchase of 2 Farms Village Road; forwards deal to board of finance

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen voted 4–2 on Jan. 13 to forward a proposal to buy 2 Farms Village Road to the Board of Finance for a public hearing and further action, endorsing a purchase price cap of $1,000,000 and conditions that require specified pre‑closing renovations by the seller.

The buy‑and‑build proposal, driven by the Board of Education, would convert the building next to Simsbury High School into an in‑district special education program meant to reduce rising out‑of‑district placement costs, shorten student transportation times and create a tuition‑based slot model for surrounding districts.

Supporters urged the board to act quickly. Jessica Parise, who identified herself as a Board of Education member speaking on her own behalf, called the acquisition “a no brainer, win win solution,” saying it would let the district bring students home from out‑of‑district placements and provide budget stability. Board staff and school leaders told the board they had considered multiple properties before concluding this site offered operational advantages because of its adjacency to the high school.

Opponents and public commenters raised fiscal and process concerns. A number of speakers during public audience said they…