nothin New Haven Independent | Sliney & Walsh Acid Test

Sliney & Walsh Acid Test

Diana Stricker Photo

It’s time to bring in the experts.

A committee grappling with decisions about whether to build or renovate two Branford public schools has decided it’s time to hire an architectural firm to do a cost analysis of the options.

Frank Carrano, who chairs the Board of Education (BOE), said the architects will look at the complete renovation of Walsh Intermediate School, with a separate wing for fifth-grade students, a wing that would contain traditional walled classrooms. They would also look at the feasibility of renovating and expanding the former Branford Hills Elementary School, which would then take the place of the aging John B. Sliney Elementary School.

It’s exciting, the fact that we’re having this conversation and that we’re moving the ball down the field,” said superintendent Hamlet Hernandez.

Carrano told the Eagle that the request for architectural services will be brought to the BOE at either the November or December meeting. He estimates that costs for the architectural review will be about $20,000.

It would be money well spent,” Hernandez told the committee, adding that the architects would provide information well beyond the expertise of this group.”

Funding requests must be approved by the Board of Finance (BOF) and the Representative Town Meeting (RTM).

A.J. Milici, a member of the schools facilities committee who serves on the RTM, suggested also doing an analysis to determine the cost of renovating Sliney. Milici said a professional comparison of Sliney and Branford Hills would provide full documentation” of the options. He said people would probably be more willing” to approve funding if they have comparison data.

Hernandez agreed, saying an analysis of the two elementary buildings would show the pros and cons as well as what each existing site has.”

Hernandez also told the committee he doesn’t think that the grade configuration should be changed. There was talk at previous meetings of moving fifth grade back to the elementary school, or putting all the kindergarten and lower elementary grades in one school. Hernandez said the realignment options did not seem feasible or practical. I think that we are appropriately configured at this time,” he said.

Milici said bringing two major renovation projects to the BOF and the RTM will be very challenging, especially since the town just built a new Fire Headquarters and will soon be discussing plans to build a new public works facility.

Carrano agreed but said the current Walsh and Sliney schools are inadequate. We have some needs that need to be met. …The town as a community has to step up.” The Board of Education last studied the Walsh issue 14 years ago, in 1998, but failed to act on it. 

The facilities committee met Monday for the first time in two months to continue deliberations it began in July. At that time, Carrano said he hoped the committee would have a recommendation by the end of September. It has taken longer. During that time, the committee has toured each of the buildings involved.

SLINEY

During a tour of Sliney in August, Principal Dr. Susan Iwanicki-Smith said problems include a small library, minimal storage space, insufficient technology, an antiquated telephone system and asbestos-filled walls. Mark Deming, director of facilities and a member of the committee said the asbestos at Sliney is the greatest challenge when it comes to repairs or renovations or upgrades to technology. Click here to read about the Sliney tour.

Sliney was built in 1929 as a high school, and is now one of three elementary schools housing kindergarten through fourth grades. Carrano said Branford Hills, which was closed several years ago, has the same configuration that Tisko and Murphy elementary schools had before they were renovated and expanded.

It’s a beautiful building but totally outdated and totally inadequate to educate today’s students,” Carrano said in regard to Sliney. He said if Sliney is vacated, the building would be returned to the town and could be sold.

WALSH WALLS

Carrano said Walsh would be completely renovated. You could have walls and you could have larger classrooms.”

Walsh was built in 1971 as an open-space concept with few interior walls. Since then, some classrooms have been enclosed and makeshift partitions have been added. Parents have been very vocal in their concern about sound levels in the school, and have been rallying for walls and sound-proofing.

Carrano said if Walsh is renovated, the fifth grade students could be put in a separate wing, perhaps in the former Industrial Arts area. The BOE was previously looking at that space as a possible home for the administration’s central offices. 

Carrano said the central offices could be put in the renovated Walsh or at a renovated Branford Hills building. He said the current administration building across from the Town Green would be returned to the town and could be sold.

Hernandez said the architects can suggest ways to minimize the impact of renovating Walsh while school is in session. Is it a disruption? Absolutely…but it’s a very manageable disruption,” he said.

Deming said the architects can use a previous master plan proposal as a basis. He was referring to the Kosinski report, which was compiled by architects at Kosinski Enterprises Inc. in 1998. The report concluded that Walsh did not meet current educational and code standards and thereby compromises function and safety at the school.” However, no action was taken on the plan at that time.

Basically, we re-do the Kosinski report,” Deming told the committee. It just didn’t get any traction back then.”

Click here to read a previous story about the Kosinski report.

Committee members suggested the architects take a quick look at some of the other buildings in the school district, like the former Pine Orchard and Indian Neck schools. Hernandez said Indian Neck houses programs for special needs youngsters, and that it would be difficult to move that program.


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