New London schools and Garde have deal on magnet school plan

Latest version means demolition of Mercer and Meridian buildings

New London — The city's school district and the Garde Arts Center have reached an agreement on the newest iteration of a plan to bring a visual and performing arts magnet arts high school to the downtown.

The evolving plan would transform a portion of the downtown area with construction of a multistory building or buildings on Meridian and State streets with space for classrooms and a 250-seat studio theater.

The three-story Mercer building and single-story Meridian building,

both owned by the Garde, would be razed as part of the plan.

Steve Sigel, the Garde’s executive director, said the new theater would connect to the Garde’s main stage with space for backstage support.

The proposed educational facility and classrooms, occupying space where the Mercer building now stands, would be separate but provide a link to the Garde.

Since the Garde now has offices there, Sigel said they would have to be moved to the upper floors of the main building.

He suspects the Garde would need to spend $2 million for renovations on that portion of the plan.

“We believe this is a great opportunity for a partnership — to provide a performing arts center and expand the Garde’s capacity to accommodate its own professional programs and ongoing educational opportunities. Everyone still loves this project,” Sigel said.

Sigel and school Superintendent Manuel Rivera said they met with state officials, including the state commissioner of education, last week to present initial proposals.

The school system will need a host of additional approvals before any of the estimated $31 million in funds is released for the project.

The idea of connecting the school district’s arts magnet pathway to the theater dates back to at least 2013 and is a centerpiece of the district’s transformation into an all-magnet school district.

Since that time, school board President Margaret Mary “Peg” Curtin said there have been changes in leadership at both the state Department of Education and Department of Administrative Services.

“It’s almost like we started from scratch again,” Curtin said. “I am encouraged. I believe this will happen. It’s just been a grind to get there. It’s been frustrating the way we have to go through hoops to get something that is good for everybody — the students, the residents, the entire region.”

The delays have even stalled the high school project, she said.

Rivera, during an editorial board interview at The Day on Monday, said it had been an “interesting year of working through the vision,” where high school students can take their classes at the high school and come to the Garde for specialty spaces with access to artists and performers and experimental opportunities in the arts field.

Rivera said an architect working for the district examined the available space at the Garde and decided it would be more cost-effective to demolish the Mercer and Meridian buildings than it would be to renovate them.

Rivera said the district will look for permission to hire an architect to further develop those plans.

Without a partnership with the Garde, Rivera said a performing arts center would have had to be constructed at the future high school campus.

There have been delays in the overall plan as the school district and Garde hashed out details of the project.

Most, if not all, of the construction costs are expected to be funded by the state.

By virtue of it being a school construction project, all state money will flow through the city.

Meanwhile, Sigel said the Garde plans to retain ownership of the property and lease to the city. He expects it may further complicate the process.

“This is all preliminary. But we are committed to navigating this. The school wants to be there. We want to have them,” Sigel said.

The Board of Education last signed a memorandum of agreement with the Garde in May 2015.

Because of the change in scope of the project, a new memorandum will need to be signed by both parties, along with the state Board of Education and state Department of Administrative Services.

Sigel said a partnership between a private nonprofit and a public school system is a complex process.

“It’s realty unprecedented,” he said.

Rivera said he was hesitant to discuss details of the plan since they are in the early stages.

He said plans are in the works for another meeting with state officials later this month.

“The whole thing could change,” Rivera said Tuesday.