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Schools

School Planning Committee Presents Two Proposals on Future of Borough Schools

The committee discussed plans for the renovate-as-new project for Naugatuck High School, as well as possible school reconfiguration during their meeting Monday night. The Marenghi Plan and Neth Plan offer contrasting designs.

The Long Term School Planning Committee discussed the reconfiguration of Naugatuck schools at their Monday meeting, and plan on releasing their proposals to the public for input.

The two proposals being considered, the Marenghi Plan, proposed by member Charles Marenghi, and the Neth Plan, proposed by Burgess Bob Neth, are both focused on creating a more efficient learning environment for Naugatuck.

The Long Term Planning Committee is focused on improving the configuration of Naugatuck schools, with plans ultimately being prepared for execution in ten to twenty years. The committee serves as a visionary for the future of Naugatuck schools, with an emphasis on creating a cost-effective quality educational environment that is efficient and in-line with modern technology and green construction.

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Both models for reconfiguration would repurpose Western School as an Alternative 7th - 12th grade facility and turn over excess education buildings to the town.

Marenghi’s model encompasses a K – 6th grade campus, a 7th – 8th grade campus and a 9th – 12th grade campus. Prospect Street and Central Avenue would be turned over to the town.

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The Neth Plan includes a K – 4th grade campus, a 5th – 8th grade campus and a 9th – 12th grade campus. Prospect Street, Central Avenue, Salem, and Tuttle would be turned over to the town.

Last year, plans to shut down Salem School were met with public criticism and outrage. Ultimately, the Board of Education voted to rescind a previous vote that would have closed the building. However, some committee members believe that closing some of Naugatuck’s schools will assist in modernizing and improving the school system.

“We need to assess the system’s long-term future,” said Bob Neth.

The committee briefly discussed current administration assignments and how to best utilize administration without adding positions with the proposed reconfigurations. More attention to administrative positions will be given in the following meetings.

Another major issue discussed at the meeting was the renovation of Naugatuck High School. The renovate-as-new project will allow for the opportunity to fix structural problems in the school and to modernize the campus and building. The high school renovations will increase the building’s square footage by 5,000 to 6,000 feet and make existing space more efficient.

The committee discussed the Naugatuck High School Feasibility Study which will ultimately analyze the costs of renovating the school. Approximately 74 percent of the total cost of renovation will be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut. The renovation will include adding parking spaces, new athletic fields and a new track. The interior of the school will be rearranged to maximize efficiency and the building would be brought up to code.

The plan is preliminary and is still under review, the committee said, but committee members believe renovation is necessary to improve the quality of education and reduce cost in the long run.

“Our objective is to plan and lead the system through fifteen years and into the future, so this is what we’re going to do,” said Chairman Warren "Pete" Hess.

The Long Term School Planning Committee meetings are open to the public. The committee’s next meeting will be held on August 15 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall.

More information on the committee and their plans can be found at Mayor Robert Mezzo's blog, http://www.bobmezzo.com/.

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