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Newtown committee favors community‑engagement consultant as facilities planning choice
Summary
The Newtown Board of Education ad hoc facilities planning committee reviewed proposals from DMG and STV on April 30, 2026, and signaled a preference for DMG’s $125,000, five‑month community‑engagement plan over STV’s $25,000 technical advisory phase; no formal vote was recorded and the choice is pending board approval.
Superintendent Anne Uberti called the Newtown Board of Education Ad Hoc Facilities Planning Committee to order at 5:00 p.m. on April 30, 2026, to review two consultant proposals intended to guide district facilities planning, including possible middle‑school consolidation and grade reconfiguration.
The committee reviewed a proposal from District Management Group (DMG) that would run for about five months and use community‑wide surveys, focus groups and leadership interviews to pair quantitative enrollment and finance analysis with extensive community engagement. Committee materials list the DMG proposal as an "all inclusive" package priced at $125,000.
STV presented a contrasting, technically focused option centered on physical building assessments, independent cost estimation and grant procurement. Committee materials note STV’s historical ties to Newtown projects and show an initial advisory phase priced at $25,000.
During the committee debrief, members described the firms’ philosophies as a "night and day" difference. Committee members said DMG’s approach offers structured "pre‑work" and a playbook for building public buy‑in, which they viewed as important given the open questions about middle‑school consolidation and grade‑reconfiguration options. In contrast, they said, STV’s strength is technical execution but that it appeared to lack a robust plan for selling a vision to a skeptical public.
Committee members also discussed budgetary tradeoffs, noting concern about committing $125,000 for DMG in light of the possibility of a failed referendum if public support is not secured. No formal motion or vote on consultant selection is recorded in the minutes; the committee’s consideration was described as a debrief and the matter remains subject to board approval.
Present at the meeting, according to the minutes, were Anne Uberti, Superintendent; Frank Purcaro, Assistant Superintendent; Alison Plante, BOE Chair; Bruce Walczak, First Selectman; Tanya Gouveia, Director of Business; John Vouros, BOE member; Steven Goodridge (BOF); Ben Rubin (listed as "LC"); Jess Fonovic, Math Specialist; Reed (listed with no role specified); John Barlow, Director of Facilities; Jim Ross, Principal, NMS; Deb Mailloux‑Petersen, Director of Special Education; Jessica Ibbitson, Community/Parent Representative; and Mandi Poseno, Recording Secretary. The minutes record no public speakers.
The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. The minutes are marked "Pending Board Approval," and any final decision on retaining a consultant will be resolved by the Board of Education in a subsequent action.
