South Windsor Council questions need for portable classrooms

Oct. 18—SOUTH WINDSOR — Town Council members expressed concerns Monday about the need for two portable classrooms at the newly built Philip R. Smith Elementary School and asked if there were a better way to create more space for the town's rising enrollment.

At Monday's Town Council meeting, school Director of Finance and Operations Chris Chemerka answered questions from council members about why the extra classrooms are needed at the school that was built in August 2020.

"As we build schools we have the ability to build them to our largest enrollment projection over an eight-year period," Chemerka said.

She said the eight-year projection for the elementary school in 2017 was 399 students. A new projection shows that 505 students could be enrolled at Philip R. Smith for the 2025-26 academic year.

Councilwoman Erica Evans asked if any of the eight portable classrooms from Pleasant Valley School could be relocated to Philip R. Smith, but Chemerka said they were too old.

Councilman Marek Kozikowski wanted to know if it would make more sense to build an addition onto the existing building, so they would have the space permanently.

Chemerka said that the Board of Education does not see the enrollment growth as a long-term issue. The board expects enrollment to plateau by the 2025-26 academic year, he said.

"We do see this as a nine-year, finite item," Chemerka said. "We wouldn't ask taxpayers to fund something that wasn't needed in our really long term view."

The board's request to transfer $749,556 from the capital non-recurring account would be used to lease two portables for nine years. The money would come from unused funds from other, separate capital improvement projects at the town's high school.

Deputy Mayor Steven King Jr. said he has no problem with adding portables, but fears being in the same position two years from now.

"We are growing," he added. "We know that as a town."

During the public hearing portion of the meeting, Alan Cavagnaro spoke about his experience learning in portable classrooms when he was in school.

He said his education was not affected by the use of portables. "All I ask is that I hope you vote in favor of having portables at Philip R. Smith," he said.

A decision on the transfer of funds will be made at a future Town Council meeting.

Construction of a new Philip R. Smith Elementary School was part of the town's 10-year plan to renovate its school buildings.

The $70 million project to rebuild Philip R. Smith and Eli Terry elementary school buildings, along with their parking lots and playgrounds, broke ground in March 2019. About $23 million in state reimbursement was used for the project.

Eli Terry cost a total of $37.4 million and was expected to house 471 students, while Philip R. Smith was $32.4 million and projected to enroll 426 students.

Voters approved the two building projects in a 2017 referendum.

Collin covers South Windsor and East Hartford for the Journal Inquirer.