Groton district to pursue federal construction grant for Charles Barnum school

Superintendent and district staff told the Groton Board of Education April 27 that a new competitive federal construction grant program (approximately $100 million nationwide) will award funds for construction and renovation projects that prioritize schools with 15% or more military-connected students.

Shannon Weigel explained that Charles Barnum School meets the 15% threshold by a wide margin (about 60% military-connected students) and is the district's top candidate for a renovation or rebuild. District staff have architectural renderings from a 2017 feasibility study and plan to update those renderings and cost estimates before the May 22 application deadline. They plan to coordinate with the state's school construction program to explore matching funds, though state timelines for construction reimbursement are lengthy.

The district indicated it will: refresh the 2017 feasibility study, meet with DoDEA representatives for feedback, produce updated cost estimates (including a rough estimate for a new building versus renovation), and evaluate phasing options that could stagger work over five years. Board members asked about potential programmatic additions (cafeteria, gym) and whether the application should focus on targeted mechanical and building-envelope work first; staff said they will discuss priorities with architects and stakeholders during upcoming site walks.

If awarded, the grant could be combined with state school construction funds to increase the total available for a major Charles Barnum project, though the district cautioned that state funding comes with a longer timeline. The board directed staff to proceed with application preparation and to brief them on the updated feasibility and cost information prior to submission.