WALLINGFORD — School officials corrected errors from the architect in the documents for the proposed high school consolidation project, while updated state reimbursement rates could bring additional financial support to the plan.
During a recent Board of Education meeting, Scott Pellman, associate director at Colliers Project Leaders, said the architect’s initial plans contained inaccuracies in the classroom figures. The documents listed 5,585 square feet of space for 17 dedicated classrooms, but the correct total is 11,293 square feet.
In addition, one of the estimated values was originally reported as $322,893, though the accurate figure is an estimated $332,000, Pellman said.
“All the numbers have now been double-checked, reviewed and confirmed as accurate,” he said, adding that if the project stays on schedule, construction could be completed by 2031.
Wallingford Board of Education member Donna Regan said it took the district to realize the documents contained errors. While she said she could understand a typo in the cost figures, Regan questioned how the architect could have miscalculated the square footage.
“I would hope that going forward, you’re going to be double-checking, triple-checking,” Regan said. “We’ll be doing the same here.”
Accurate information is essential as the district continues evaluating the proposed consolidation of Lyman Hall and Sheehan high schools, she said. The district wants to present accurate and consistent information to the public, Regan said.
Pellman also reported that Wallingford received updated state reimbursement rates in August, which could benefit the district. The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services recently changed how it calculates reimbursements for school construction projects, narrowing the gap between renovation and new construction funding.
Under the new formula, Wallingford’s renovation reimbursement rate increased from 54.28% in 2025 to 55.36%, while the new construction reimbursement rate rose from 44.28% to 51.25% in 2026.
Some costs, such as utility work beyond the property line, remain ineligible for reimbursement, though those expenses are typically minor, he said.
The building size is one of the biggest factors that would affect the reimbursement rate. The state currently reimburses up to 277,938 square feet of building space, and any increase beyond that threshold reduces the reimbursement on a percentage basis.
Pellman encouraged the district to begin reaching out early to local legislators, explaining the project’s goals and seeking support for potential funding adjustments.
The Board of Education continues to evaluate five consolidation options, ranging from renovating existing schools to constructing a new facility with additional classrooms. The estimates do not yet include bonding, demolition or potential land acquisition costs. No formal action on the project was taken at the meeting.
Crystal Elescano is the education and Latino communites reporter at the Record Journal. She earned her BA in Journalism at the University of Connecticut and is set to earn her MA in Latino/a and Latin American Studies at UConn's El Instituto in May 2024. She has been part of the Record Journal’s Latino Communities Reporting Lab since June 2021, where she started as an intern. When she’s not writing, Crystal enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and watching telenovelas.