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East Windsor board seeks extra state aid and repurposes capital funds for urgent erosion repair at high school
Summary
The East Windsor Board of Education heard an update on school renovation plans and approved closing two small capital accounts to create a roughly $59,678 CNR fund to fix escalating erosion at East Windsor High School, while district leaders continue pursuing additional state reimbursement through special legislation.
The East Windsor Board of Education on Tuesday discussed progress on two school renovation projects and voted to repurpose leftover capital funds to pay for an urgent repair to erosion behind East Windsor High School.
Superintendent Patrick told the board the district has nearly finished conceptual designs and ad specifications for both renovation projects and has met with state representatives about seeking extra reimbursement. He said a state legislator ‘‘indicated she’s willing to advocate on our behalf’’ for special legislation that, if approved next April, could make both projects affordable.
Board members pressed officials for details on timing and reimbursement mechanics — whether funds would be paid up front or reimbursed later and how percentages are calculated based on student population — and asked the administration to prepare a public update after the next ad hoc committee meeting, targeting mid-October.
Separately, administrators described two completed capital projects with remaining balances — the Broadbrook Elementary gym ceiling ($10,225) and a Broadbrook chimney repair (about $49,453.20) — and recommended closing those accounts and using the funds to create a new CNR line to address a worsening runoff and woodline erosion behind the high school.
District staff said the erosion ‘‘is causing erosion and is starting to escalate,’’ and that a contractor on the state bid list submitted a quote of roughly $57,300. Because the district’s SIP timeline could delay work by nearly a year, staff recommended moving quickly so winter weather does not worsen the problem. The board voted unanimously to close the two CNR accounts and to create the new CNR using the roughly $59,678.20 in available funds.
Board members also discussed permitting and wetlands checks; staff said they would confirm inland wetlands requirements before contracting and would provide a memo to town staff documenting the decision and the project photos.
The resolution to repurpose funds passed by voice vote; the superintendent said the district will notify relevant town officials as a professional courtesy and will move forward with contracting once permitting checks are complete.
What’s next: staff will confirm wetlands/permit requirements, finalize a contract with the state–bid contractor if permitted, and provide the board and town officials with documentation of the work and costs.
