Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board forwards statement of need for Berlin High track replacement; facilities updates include seclusion‑room completion and flood mitigation
Summary
The board voted to forward a statement of need for Berlin High School’s track replacement (estimates $800,000–$1.3 million) to the Town Council and Public Building Commission; the meeting also covered completion of a Griswald seclusion room, a December 23 flood that was mitigated, HVAC project timelines and temporary YMCA daycare relocation concerns.
The Berlin Board of Education voted Jan. 13 to forward a statement of need for replacement of the Berlin High School track to the Town Council and the Public Building Commission after facilities staff said the track shows uneven surfaces, poor drainage and material delamination.
Director of Finance and Operations Ashley Dorsy told the board that the district received three estimates for the project, with the lowest around $800,000 and the highest about $1.3 million. "The track has some areas of uneven surfaces and cracks ... the purpose of today is to get that statement of need to the building commission," Dorsy said, explaining that projects above the town threshold for capital funding require Public Building Commission review and typically take planning time before construction (the district aims for a 2027 replacement to allow proper procurement and scheduling).
Board members asked whether recently replaced turf would be affected during track work; Dorsy said protecting the turf and warranty compliance would be part of the project scope and cost. The motion to forward the statement of need passed.
Separately, Dorsy provided a facilities update: the final wall padding for the Griswald seclusion room arrived and was installed in early January and the space is ready for use; the district also mitigated damage after a December 23 braided‑line sink failure flooded several classrooms at Griswald and contracted a mitigation company to address water damage, with classrooms reopening for the start of school.
Several board members sought clarification on the seclusion room’s purpose and safeguards. Staff stressed seclusion is used only under strict statutory and district guidelines when a student is a danger to self or others, that staff trained in PMT (protective management techniques) are involved in safe escort procedures, and that students are continuously monitored while in the space. "Seclusion rooms are constructed to be highly monitored and safe; students are never left alone," a principal told the board, while another staff member noted the rooms are used rarely and that a district therapy dog at Griswald has helped reduce seclusion incidents.
Dorsy also reported HVAC commissioning schedules for Willard and other upgrades and described discussions with the Public Building Commission about temporarily relocating YMCA daycare services during extended construction at Hubbard; the district is working with town officials and the YMCA to identify temporary space, including potential use of a Berlin High School classroom if reimbursement issues can be resolved.
The board approved the motion to forward the track statement of need and received the facilities update for its information; no project contracts were awarded at this meeting.
