East Haven School Board Approves $98M School Consolidation Plan

A unanimous decision was made by the East Haven Board of Education on Tuesday evening, which approved a $98.6 million school consolidation plan, according to the New Haven Register.

The plan is now heading to Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. and the Board of Finance for their consideration and approval. The state would pay approximately $67 million of the costs, the Register reports.

Before the meeting, Board Chairman John Finkle expressed his doubts about the Board of Finance’s approval over the project because of its extremely high cost, the article reported. If the project were to not be approved by the Board, then cuts would have to be made to the plan, the Register reports.

The plan being debated over would consolidate the current six elementary schools into three, change the middle schools to host fifth through seventh grades and move eighth grade to the high school, according to the article.

Town and school Finance Director Paul Rizza said he wants to make sure the empty schools don’t end up like the old East Haven High School at Tyler street, which has been unoccupied for some time now as the town considers how to use it.

A four-year action plan was offered at the meeting, pertaining to the consolidation plan, and would start this upcoming school year, according to the article.

Read the full New Haven Register story here.