Superintendent: New high school site under negotiation; grant application now targeted for June 2027

Superintendent Belizzi told the Wallingford School District operations committee on March 16 that the district has completed enrollment studies, educational specifications and an initial test-fit for a single new high school, and has identified a potential site but is still negotiating terms with the landowner and the town. She said additional work — finalizing ASTE educational specifications, geotechnical and environmental testing, a traffic study and a second round of appraisals — remains before the district can ask the town for funding and apply for a construction grant.

"Based on the studies that we still have left, the negotiations for the potential site, and funding that we'll still need to do for studies that are still remaining, it's not possible to be able to do it for this June," Belizzi said, adding the district is now looking to "June 2027 to be able to apply for a grant if we receive the funding that we need for one high school." The superintendent also said any land purchase would be contingent on the entire project proceeding and that the site would likely become public only when a tentative purchase agreement and a funding request are presented to the town council.

Board members pressed staff on timing and transparency. Dr. Reed asked whether the remaining studies would make the site selection clearer; Belizzi replied the location will become public when a funding request and purchase agreement are advanced to the town. The chair urged a joint executive session with town council to update officials so the town does not feel the project has "gone into a dark hole." Belizzi said a joint executive session with the town council is planned and members should expect scheduling information within about a week.

Dr. Rasco and other members said they were frustrated the district is roughly a year behind its earlier target and asked what steps the board could take to expedite the parts of the process outside the district’s control. Belizzi said staff will continue negotiations with the town and will return with more information as studies and appraisals are completed.

Next steps identified by staff are negotiating the site purchase terms, completing required environmental and geotechnical testing, finalizing the ASTE educational specifications and preparing traffic and circulation reviews that will be updated once design reaches the 60% stage. The superintendent emphasized that further funding requests will be needed for due diligence and remaining studies once the site negotiations are farther along.