WETHERSFIELD, CT (WFSB) - Nearly $240 million could be coming to Wethersfield Public Schools for upgrades to some of its elementary schools.
Tuesday, voters cast their ballots for a referendum.
It was a busy morning at the Community Center. It was the District 6 polling site.
As of about noon on Tuesday, it was a mixed bag of opinions with some people saying they shouldn’t have to dish out more of their taxpayer dollars while others argued the investment is necessary to keep teachers and students safe.
“We know there needs to be some work in the schools, but this is not the answer,” said Bob Woodward of Wethersfield.
“It feels fiscally irresponsible not to invest now,” said Mindy Gold of Wethersfield.
The highly anticipated vote followed a plan approved by the Town Council in June. The plan would bring renovations to Samuel Webb and Charles Wright elementary schools and build a brand new Highcrest Elementary School.
Since then, there’s been heated debate.
Woodward said he was part of a group formed against the referendum.
“What is it going to do to our taxes? There are lots of people in this town who are seniors, who are ALICE, assets or income limited. How do we afford this?”
ALICE is an acronym for “asset limited, income constrained, employed.”
Some, like Woodward, don’t think a brand-new school needs to come to town. He said he especially doesn’t think locals should be footing the $239 million bill that comes with it.
“We want the town to come together to have a plan that all of us can afford,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the parking lot, a group held signs that read “say yes.”
“You have mold, you have asbestos, you have just really unsafe layouts,” Gold said. “These schools were built before modern security conversations were happening.”
Gold said she has young children that will soon be entering the district.
She wants to see conditions improve for kids and teachers and said now is the time.
“If we don’t do it right the first time, we’re going to pay more to do Band-Aid fixes and then be right back in this position in 5-10 years,” she said.
She said it will help bring more money to Wethersfield.
“We know that more young families will move to town and businesses will follow to cater to these young families,” Gold said.
No matter what side of the parking lot they sat on here, both had a clear message to “get out and vote.”
Polls were slated to close here at 8 p.m.