What You Need To Know Before Schools Renewal Plan Feb. Referendum

Ellyn Santiago
Updated ·3 min read

MADISON, CT — In less than a month, the Madison Schools Renewal Plan will go to referendum, where voters will decide the future of the proposal that's been in the works for years.

The plan is set for a public referendum on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

In September 2019, the Board of Education adopted the plan to address "aging school buildings, which range in age from 18 to 64 years old," per the district.

"The plan reflects the work of the Board of Education, the district administration, and community stakeholders over the last several years," according to the district.

The plan has four components:

  • Construct a PreK-5 elementary school on the Green Hill Campus

  • Transform Brown Intermediate School into a K-5 school

  • Maintain Polson as a 6-8 school and DHHS as 9-12

  • Complete renovations at Polson including new Air Quality Systems/HVAC, auditorium modernization, and security enhancements

The plan will result in the closure of two of the district's oldest school buildings - Jeffrey and Ryerson elementary schools - as well as the Town Campus Learning Center Preschool (TCLC), contracting the district down to four buildings, the the schools' website.

Construction would commence shortly after a successful referendum and all new and renovated buildings would open their doors in 2025, the district said.

3 schools will go remote Feb. 15, day of referendum

As the two polling locations in town are school buildings, the district adjusted its learning model for some buildings Fed. 15. It's noted in a message from schools Superintendent Dr. Craig Cooke, the district hopes to "not always shift to distance learning on a voting day."

"But COVID-19 adds additional complications regarding visitors and parking, as well as the loss of some indoor spaces to polling locations," he said.

Daniel Hand High School, Polson Middle School, and Brown Intermediate School will distance learn that Tuesday, with programming for students from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each of these schools will communicate directly with families and students an agenda for the day.

Cooke said the remote learning day will not impact the last day of school, as Madison Public Schools has more than the state-required number of school days.

Meanwhile, Ryerson, Jeffrey and TCLC will have a normal in-person learning day. This particular remote learning day will not impact the last day of school as Madison Public Schools has more than the required number of school days in CT.

Tour Brown School on Sunday Jan. 23

The district will open Brown School to the public on Sunday, Jan. 23 to "help those in the community who have never been in Brown to visualize this potential change."

"We wanted to offer the community a chance to explore the building," Cooke said.

There will be two sessions to ensure groups can social distance, the first from 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. and the second, from 2:15 to 3 p.m.

Cooke asked that those who will take the tour should not bring children, as childcare will not be available and masks are required.


Read more>>
Board Of Selectmen OK $1.3M Purchase Of Property For New School

First Look At Draft For Madison's Proposed New Elementary School

This article originally appeared on the Madison Patch