Groton seeks state reimbursement for one school building project

Town is eligible for 80 percent restitution but must receive recommendation

Groton — Groton is eligible for 80 percent state reimbursement for one of its three school buildings, but the town must receive a recommendation of the State Department of Administrative Services commissioner and legislative approval to receive the money.

The school district submitted its plan for new school construction last June to build a new middle school and expand and convert its existing two middle schools into larger elementary schools. Voters approved the $184.4 million school construction plan at referendum in November.

Groton made it through the first step of receiving state funding by getting the projects on the state priority list this year, Superintendent Michael Graner said. But at the time of the application in June, all of Groton’s schools were in racial balance, so the district could not apply for a grant to provide 80 percent reimbursement for a school based on racial imbalance.

Two weeks ago, the state notified Groton that Claude Chester Elementary School is out of racial balance, Graner said. Due to this, Groton can now request the grant. However, the town needs the recommendation of DAS Commissioner Melody Currey and legislative approval to make the

change.

The difference to Groton between the current state reimbursement rate and the 80 percent grant is about $10.3 million, Graner said.

A representative of the company assisting Groton with the school project told a joint meeting of the Town Council and school board Tuesday that the town had done everything possible to get the money.

“The jury’s still out but we are well poised, and you, the town, have done everything you could do,” said John J. Butkus, project executive with Arcadis.

If the grant is approved, Groton taxpayers would cover $84 million of the $184.4 million project cost. If not, the town would have to pick up about $94 million instead or scale back the project. The town expects to know by Thursday if Commissioner Currey has recommended approval.

Groton’s three schools are separate items on the priority list of school construction grants before the legislature, but are expected to be voted on as a block. If all are approved together, design of the new middle school would begin shortly and construction would start in the second half of 2018. The new middle school would open to students in the fall of 2020, Butkus said.

Design of the two future elementary schools would begin in early 2018. Additions to the existing middle schools would then be built first, starting in the second half of 2019. The inside of the existing middle schools then would be renovated and converted into elementary school space. The renovated elementary schools would open to students in 2022.