PORTLAND, CT (WFSB) - There will be plenty of candidates on the ballot this November, but there will also be several big school projects.
One of the more controversial is in Portland. The plan would close two elementary schools and build what some are calling a mega-school.
The Valley View School is now Pre-K through first grade, but the project would make it Pre-K through fifth grade. That could triple the number of students attending the school.
Some feel that’s too big and they don’t like the price tag, but others say consolidating makes the most sense.
“The plan is to decommission two of our elementary schools and renovate to new a third elementary school,” said Portland First Selectman Ryan Curley.
Curley is not taking a stand on the project, but instead provided some facts.
It is a big project with a 68-million-dollar price tag after state funding kicks in. He says Portland’s share would be 33 million.
To make this happen, two schools, Gilder Sleeve and Brownstone, would close and Valley View would become one big elementary school.
“Right now there are about 220 students at valley view, this would extend that to over 600,” said Portland Superintendent Charles Britton.
“These are children that could three years old up to 11 years old. And that’s a lot of children in one school,” said Susan Bransfield, a former first selectwoman who is against the project.
She is encouraging voters to say no to what she feels would be a mega-school.
Her issues are the price tag, elimination of some staff, closing two gyms, and plenty of details that are up in the air.
“There are many many issues that have concerns and have questions that have not been fully discussed,” she continued.
Jennifer Pickett however feels consolidating makes sense. She’s a second-grade teacher at Gilder Sleeve, one of the schools being impacted.
Gilder Sleeve and Brownstone are older and need expensive repairs.
“I would love for my kids to be in consecutive place for seven years, pre k through 5 would be amazing, thinking about creating our big sense of community where kids can stay with the same trusted adults,” she said.
This is one project that has people passionate on both sides. On election day, plans for this new school will either go forward or go back to the drawing board.
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