District schedules three public community conversations for GES feasibility study

Dr. Romano and district staff updated the board Feb. 24 on the ongoing feasibility study for Gustav Elementary School (GES) and said the project team has scheduled three public community conversations and a sequence of invitation‑only sessions to gather stakeholder input.

The timeline and outreach: the district said the first public meeting is set for Thursday, March 13 at GES from 6 to 7 p.m., the second public meeting for Thursday, April 10 (6–7 p.m.) at GES, and a final session on May 22 at Longmeadow (6–7 p.m.). The sessions are intended to move from broad visioning to refined options and then to preferred plans and next steps. In addition, the consultant team will hold two invitation‑only ‘‘think‑tank’’ days targeting staff and stakeholders: one on March 5 (PES) and one on April 30 (GES).

Community outreach and materials: district staff said a project web page with agendas, submitted comments and video from meetings is available and that presentation materials will appear as the process continues. Board members asked about notice to the broader community; staff said they would publish the meetings in the district’s news blast and asked the towns to push the information through their channels and the individual schools.

Why it matters: the feasibility study will inform potential capital planning and site decisions that could lead to later bond proposals, facility investments or reconfiguration of grade/space assignments; the board stressed the importance of broad public participation.

Next steps: the feasibility study committee will meet March 11; staff asked board members and the public to attend the community conversations and to check the district webpage for updates and materials.