Seymour Board approves education specifications for Bunge Elementary ahead of state reimbursement review

The Seymour Board of Education voted to approve the educational specifications for Bunge Elementary School at 35 Bunge Road, prepared by Construction Solutions Group LLC, clearing a step needed to pursue state reimbursement for the project.

Board members moved the item forward after a presentation from Michael Sasso of Antonis and Associates and members of the district building committee. Sasso said the project team completed schematic designs and cost estimates for both a renovation option and a new‑construction option and that the education specifications were written to be applicable to either approach. “We’ve completed schematic design options based on the head specs that we generated,” Sasso said. “We had a renovation option and a new option … the heads that we developed are intended to be applicable for either option.”

The board discussed how state reimbursement would affect local bonding and what portions of the project would be eligible for extra aid. A board member asked whether a bond would be for the full project amount or only the town’s share. A district official said bonding is presented for the full project amount and that budgeting must account for amounts the state would not reimburse. Board members also asked whether building a preschool at Bunge would affect eligibility for additional state reimbursement; Sasso said the district had reviewed statutory requirements and that preschool-related bonuses are tied to square footage and priority district status, and may not automatically apply to Seymour.

Superintendent Barbara Compton and members of the building committee said they had reached out to state legislators to request special consideration for Seymour’s preschool needs. One committee member reported contacting a state representative to explore a special act or other avenues to increase Seymour’s reimbursement share and said legislators had indicated willingness to assist.

The board approved the education specifications to allow the district to file for the next stage of state review. No formal decision on renovation versus new construction was made at the meeting; the board and building committee said cost comparisons and further discussion will guide that choice.

The approval moves the project to the next administrative step required for state review and potential reimbursement. Board members asked staff and committee members to continue engaging state representatives and to return with refined cost estimates and any updates on eligibility rules.