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Winchester to ask voters to approve $22.9 million bond for Pearson Middle School roof
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Summary
Town officials presented a condition assessment and estimates showing the Isabella M. Pearson Middle School roof is saturated in places; officials will send a $22,898,670 bond question to a March 24, 2026 referendum seeking state reimbursement of roughly 70%.
Winchester officials told residents at a March 17 special town meeting that they will submit a bond resolution to voters on March 24, 2026, seeking $22,898,670 to replace the roof and portions of the building envelope at Isabella M. Pearson Middle School.
The presenter said the project is estimated at about $2.9 million for a roughly 49,130-square-foot roof, and that the State of Connecticut is expected to reimburse approximately 70% (the presenter cited $2,029,000.69). He said the town’s portion would be the remainder and that borrowing would likely increase town debt service by roughly $70,000 per year starting in fiscal year 2028. The presenter emphasized that the figures are estimates and subject to architectural design, bidding and state review.
Chris Fleming, a Garland Roof representative who presented the moisture scans, described widespread saturation and multiple active leaks. "I think there's 5 or 6 active leaks currently," Fleming said, pointing to scans showing red—saturated—areas and ponding two weeks after a rainstorm. Fleming and others said the roof has extensive blistering, "mole runs," clogged drains and masonry problems, and that a patch approach would not qualify the town for state reimbursement.
A consultant on the meeting explained that to qualify for the state reimbursement the town must perform a complete rip-and-replace and meet a state minimum warranty requirement; Garland said it typically offers a 30-year warranty while the state requires at least 20 years. The presenter and Garland warned that delaying replacement risks structural damage and higher long-term costs.
Officials said the referendum question will read, in part: "Shall the town of Winchester appropriate $22,898,670 for the cost related to the replacement of the roof and portions of the building envelope at the Isabella M. Pearson Middle School and authorize the issue of bonds and notes in the same amount to finance the portion of the appropriation not defrayed from grants?" Absentee ballots will be available in the town clerk’s office the day after the meeting.
If voters approve the resolution, the project would proceed to design and bidding; the presenter said work would not begin until 2027 and that a building committee would be assembled to oversee design, bid selection and construction timing.
The meeting recorded a motion to adjourn the special town meeting and submit the resolution to referendum; the motion was seconded and carried. The referendum will be held Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Winchester Town Hall, 338 Main Street.
