Wanted: Public Input For Vernon 10-year Facilities Study

VERNON, CT — An ad hoc committee appointed by the the Vernon Board of Education to evaluate a 10-year facilities study is hosting listening sessions next week at three schools.

The ad hoc committee reviewed the findings of the 10-year facilities study and will develop recommendations. It is now seeking feedback from the community via the three public meetings.

Residents can learn more about the facilities study and its findings here.

The ad hoc committee is made up of board of education and town council members, parents, administrators, teachers and community representatives.

The listening tours are scheduled for:

• Lake Street School, 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18.
• Maple Street School, 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19.
• Northeast School, 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20.

Ad Hot Committee chairmen, Board of Education Chairman Paul Grabowski and former board member Mason Thrall, said the goal is inform residents about the study findings, including which buildings are in the most need of work, and to learn from residents what they want.

"It's really important that we get community feedback so families and parents and community members can really see what condition the schools are in and have an understanding of what needs to be fixed," Grabowski said. "That’s why we’re doing these listening tours, particularly focused on Maple Street School, which is over 100 years old and has significant issues related to Americans with Disabilities Act compliance."

The meetings will not only focus on issues that need to be addressed at each building, but potential
costs and possible options.

"We are also doing one at Lake Street and Northeast,” Grabowski said. "Lake Street has some issues that need to be addressed regarding its roof and water and its overall design. Northeast School is right behind Maple Street in age."

The newest elementary school in Vernon is Center Road School, which was completed in 1969. Ad hoc
committee members have visited and carefully evaluated every school building in Vernon, and visited
new schools in surrounding towns.

"We want to make sure that we understand what the community values most – safety, more modern
classrooms, sustainability, accessibility, technology, athletic facilities, what the case may be," Thrall
said. "We want to hear their perception of the existing buildings – what’s working, what they feel is
outdated or unsafe, and what improvements are most wanted."

Another important consideration is space for the many services schools now provide that did not exist when the schools were built.

"It’s important to modernize our schools," Grabowski said. "We want our teachers to have access to the best equipment and facilities. Schools have evolved a lot over the past 100 years so we need to build unique spaces for some of the specialties, such as interventionists and speech therapists. These
buildings were built at a time you didn’t have a lot of these specialties and therapies in school, and they are in need of their own spaces."

Added Thrall, "There are equity concerns. We want to make sure no one feels overlooked or under-
served, and that we’re not missing anything."

All options are on the table and the committee wants the public to provide input, he said.

Essentially, the committee and the study will inform residents about the conditions of each building
in the district.

"Here’s what the situation is," Grabowski said. "Now let’s do some brainstorming. Let's talk about
options. What makes the most sense? All options are on the table. It’s about getting input."