Madison Voters Approve Schools Renewal Plan In Referendum

MADISON, CT — Madison voters approved all three questions in Tuesday night's referendum, paving the way for the town to move forward with its Schools Renewal Plan and a plan to turn the former Academy School into a community center.

The Madison Schools Renewal Plan is designed to address "aging school buildings," and it has several components:

• Construct a PreK-5 elementary school on the Green Hill Campus
• Transform Brown Intermediate School into a K-5 school
• Maintain Polson as a 6-8 school and DHHS as 9-12
• Complete renovations at Polson including new Air Quality Systems/HVAC, auditorium modernization, and security enhancements

Per the plan, Jeffery and Ryerson elementary schools and the Town Campus Learning Center Preschool will close, according to the town.

Preliminary results of the referendum show 2,758 voters approved using $89,200,000 to fund the project, while 2,205 people voted against the move.

The vote was the final step needed to pass a proposal that's been in the works for years: The board of education initially adopted the plan in September 2019, with the district saying it was designed to address "aging school buildings, which range in age from 18 to 64 years old."

Read more: What You Need To Know Before Schools Renewal Plan Feb. Referendum

Officials are expecting construction to start "shortly" and for new and renovated buildings to be open in 2025.

And the Madison Schools Renewal Plan isn't the only project voters approved last night: By a vote of 2,702-2,240, residents signed off on using $15,900,000 to renovate the Academy School and turn it into a community center and municipal building.

Read more: What You Need To Know About Academy School Community Center Plan

The renovation would include creating common spaces and community gathering spaces for educational and art programs, as well as a resource center and gallery spaces, space for Youth and Family Services, and space for Beach & Recreation.

Voters also selling the property located at Island Avenue to OLM Prep Real Estate Holdings, LLC for $2.3 million. The vote was 3,591-1,354.