State requests force revisions to Norwich grant applications; teachers’ middle-school enrollment report and adult-education eligibility stall approvals

Norwich staff told the school building committee the state has requested additional documentation before approving grant applications for the Teachers Middle School and Norwich central office projects. The committee was told the city submitted required materials for phase 2 projects and followed up with additional material for phase 3 projects, but the state flagged several items requiring edits.

For Teachers Middle School, the state asked for school-by-school enrollment reports rather than district-level projections. Mike Zuba of MP Planning Group (the district’s enrollment consultant) provided a proposal to update the report; staff said the update would likely cost under $3,000 and that the state has been informed the work is in progress. The city also submitted an updated city council resolution (approved Oct. 6) removing wording that the project was “renovated as new or new,” per the state’s instruction.

Separately, the state rejected the Norwich central office grant application because the submission included the adult education program as an eligible reimbursable cost. Staff noted Connecticut Department of Education guidance and the staff’s reading of state rules: adult education programming is mandated but does not qualify for construction reimbursement under the grant policy. Staff said removing those spaces from the estimate will require revising educational specifications and cost estimates; if the state ultimately declines the application, committee members may need to consider seeking legislative action to add the project to the state priorities list.

Ending: Staff will provide the requested enrollment report to the state and await the state’s determination; the committee asked staff to prepare to pursue next steps, including revised estimates and potential legislative outreach if the state does not approve eligibility changes.