The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
State OKs $7M for Hinsdale project
Bond Commission approves $200M for school construction projects
WINSTED — The state Bond Commission Tuesday approved $200 million to fund school projects around the state, including the Mary P. Hinsdale School in Winsted.
The commission met online, led by Gov. Ned Lamont, approving a variety of funding requests. During his opening remarks, the governor specifically mentioned Winchester while discussing school construction projects.
“Of our $325 million for our GO bonds, general obligation bonds, $200 million of that is related to schools, and school construction,” the governor said. “I know we’re working hard to get our kids back to school . ... In the meantime, ongoing school construction continues . ... We have Bassick in Bridgeport, Hamden,
New London, Stonington and Winchester; schools all over the state will continue to rebuild and make sure we (continue moving) forward.”
Mayor Candy Perez was thrilled to hear the town’s funding request was approved.
“It’s great news, that the governor and the Bond Commission are giving funding for the schools,” she said. “Our town has made so much progress, and this carries us forward to continue to improve the schools for children and families.”
Voters in September 2019 approved in a referendum a $17.43 million plan to renovate the school. Winsted requested $7 million in funding from the Bond Commission, leaving the town to pay about $10.5 million.
Winsted Town Manager
“It’s great news, that the governor and the Bond Commission are giving funding for the schools. Our town has made so much progress, and this carries us forward to continue to improve the schools for children and families.”
Mayor Candy Perez
Robert Geiger said the Hinsdale School Building Committee, assembled by the Board of Education, is working with its architects, Silver Petrucelli, on drawings for the renovation of the shuttered school, which was closed in 2016.
After voters approved the Hinsdale project in 2019, the Board of Selectmen earmarked $300,000 in its capital fund to hire an architect to begin redesigning the school, Geiger said.
“The drawings are the first phase,” Geiger said.
“It takes three to four months to get all the details for that phase, and we’re doing that with Silver Petrucelli. Once that’s done, it’s presented, and then it goes out to bid.”
In another step, the Planning & Zoning Commission on July 13 approved a special permit for the project and set a public hearing for Aug. 24.
The planned Hinsdale renovation includes removing an original portion of the building to eliminate a culvert that now runs under the school; adding 7,700 square feet of new classroom space; replacing ceilings and floors that are in poor condition; adding a new play area for students; and replacing sidewalks, paving and curbing outside the building.
The school, which served students in prekindergarten through second grade, was closed in 2016 during the tenure of state Receiver Robert Travaglini.