AWP, CORE could be moving to new site on Main Street

Michelle Warren, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

May 21—WILLIMANTIC — The Board of Education is expected to review a proposal next week to move the Assisted Work Program (AWP) and Community Occupational and Remote Education (CORE) program to a new site on Main Street.

The CORE program is an alternative high school, while AWP is a program designed to teach high school graduates up to 22 years old independent living skills.

Windham Pupil Services Director Suzanne Krach said the department of education requires the programs to be housed in a " community- based location" or on a high school site.

Therefore, the programs have to be moved.

The proposed space is at 579 Boston Post Road in North Windham in the building where Berkshire Bank is. It used to be the home of The Savings Institute Training Center. There are approximately 13,171 square feet available in the building.

The Board of Education's finance and audit committee recommended the site to the full board during their May 18 meeting. The full board is expected to review the proposal during their May 25 meeting.

" The start date will be decided after the board has conversations about it," Krach said.

According to Youngberg, it took a year to find the appropriate space, which is already furnished.

" We looked at many spaces," Krach said.

Other sites that school officials explored include: 322 Main St., 1701 West Main St., 1120 Main St. and 1320 Main St.

Krach said the current proposed site is a " great space," noting it is on one floor and is handicapped- accessible.

The base rent for the proposed space is $ 131,500 annually. The rent covers the following: lawn care, snowplowing, spring clean-up, fall clean-up and exterior maintenance. School staff would be responsible for garbage removal, interior janitorial work, utilities and upgrading cameras and door access to be compatible with the school district's systems, if that is necessary.

School board members will review a proposed, threeyear contract with extension options.

There is a built- in option to buy the space, if the school district decides to do so.

The school district has tuition savings, out- of- district tuition income, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funding, Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief funding and American Rescue Plan funding that it could use to pay for the move.

Krach said there are currently 13 people in CORE, which is for people in 9th through 12th grades.

Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter-@ mwarrentc.

base rent for the proposed space is $131,500 annually.