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He was talking to a Minuteman reporter about the charge for the building committee that will be responsible for adding approximately ten classrooms to Fairfield Woods Middle School.
First Selectman Ken Flatto, on the other hand, said afterwards, This is a great opportunity for Selectman Bowley to agree to limit spending on a school project."
The charge, as written by the first selectman's office, said, "Up to ten classrooms" should be added, however, after much discussion in which it was pointed out that the Middle School Space Feasibility Committee, which met for several months to study space needs, said "at least ten classrooms should be constructed," in its final report, Flatto proposed the wording "approximately" ten classrooms.
The space committee's final report also said that there should be a thorough evaluation of the main building to assure that there were adequate core spaces, such as library, art, music, gym lunch, and tutoring in order to meet the needs of the additional student population.
Flatto's charge said that no more than $1 million should be spent on the main building.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Jack Boyle protested vehemently. He pointed out the Board of Education alone has the authority to set or change educational specifications (often called "ed specs").
Boyle pointed out that the population of Fairfield Woods Middle School would rise from 650 to over 800 students and said that artificial caps on spending for core facilities "don't help."
Boyle pointed out that the spending process was such that the committee would have to go to the Board of Selectmen, then the Board of Finance, and then the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in order to get funding, anyway. "Then, if it's thumbs down, we reconfigure it," he said.
However, Sherri Steeneck said, as a former RTM member, she was aware that proposals were given to that body, with the admonition that it had to be done "now" or it wouldn't be done on time, and things were voted in on a "take it or leave it" basis.
Fairfield Woods Middle School principal Greg Hatzis said that from another perspective, "I am asking you to consider what message that sends to Fairfield Woods, Burr and Jennings parents, putting limitations on this project? Does it send the message about being second-class citizens? The sky's the limit for the rest of town ..."
Bowley pointed out that in the past building committees had given different options money-wise, so the funding bodies could choose.
Education Board member Pam Iacono said that the students who would be in Fairfield Woods were the same students who had spent their entire education "in wooden sheds and metal sheds and not had enough time to eat lunch."
Steeneck said that she had gone to school by walking on planks in a building that was being rebuilt around the students. "I've already gotten calls from people asking me how we can even consider adding on to that building at all," said Steeneck."
Flatto also offered the opinion that the "bubble" in middle school population would only be for two years, however, after the meeting, Iacono responded, "The first selectman said this is a bubble. We've been having this bubble since we shut down a high school in the eighties and it's impossible to tell when it's going to burst, so we should start planning accordingly."
Flatto told a Minuteman reporter after the meeting that he was trying to seek a more orderly process and get the project done before new classrooms are needed by Fall of 2011.
"There are some Board of Ed members who are continually seeking the biggest school space possible," said Flatto, adding, "If they look at everything in the school, it will turn into a large project. I'm trying to get it done on time without it turning into a huge unwieldy project."
"If the community thinks the town is overspending, they'll be more likely to make cuts in the future, so I'm trying to help the school system by pruning and doing what we have to do right, but not doing wish lists. By the way, I think that is the proper process," said Flatto.
Iacono had accused Flatto of being "political" in the meeting, saying, "If you don't want to do it, then say you don't want to do it, but don't pawn it off because you don't want to do it."
As for a possible referendum, Iacono said, "You don't know until you try."
