Board previews 'D2' elementary construction and consolidation plan ahead of grant deadline
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Summary
Board members reviewed ‘scenario D2’ — a phased plan to build Kelly and South End, seek a 50% state reimbursement and plan future phases so the grant application and referendum align. The board deferred action and will revisit the plan on Feb. 19.
The Southington Board of Education spent a substantive portion of the meeting reviewing a time-sensitive elementary construction and consolidation plan known in district materials as scenario D2. The presenter said meeting the state’s space standards across the remaining schools could allow the district to qualify for the maximum 50% reimbursement on eligible construction costs; that outcome is contingent on enrollment aligning with the square footage being built.
Speaker 13 summarized that phase 1 (build out of Kelly and South End) was already adopted and that adopting a forward-looking master plan would make the June 30 grant application more viable. The presenter recommended returning with Colliers (the district’s project management group) at the next meeting to answer detailed questions on costs and timelines and said no formal board action would be taken that night. Paul Chaplinski, chairman of the Southington Town Council and a member of the district-wide facilities committee, said the council wants a clear strategic plan so it can plan for debt service, potential repurposing or disposal of buildings and community input ahead of referendums.
The presenter said scenario D2 would finish the buildout for Kelly and South End in 2029, trigger redistricting for the 2029–30 school year and would result in the planned closure of Flanders at that time; the board reiterated it will address the remaining facilities and debt-service timing in future meetings. The board scheduled further discussion and possible action on Feb. 19.
