New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
New Cheshire schools to feature outdoors themes, geothermal energy
CHESHIRE — Designs are nearly complete for the two new elementary schools that are set to be built in Cheshire as part of the district’s school modernization project.
The new Norton School, to be built at the same location of the current school, 414 North Brooksvale Road, will have a “Woods and Trails” theme, while the yet-unnamed school in the north end — replacing Chapman Elementary and Darcey School — will have a “Farm and Field” theme, fitting with its rural location on property located at the intersection of Jarvis and Marion roads. The themes were developed by stakeholder groups made up of students, parents, staff and community members, convened by architects.
For the north end school, 400 drawings and 2,000 pages of narrative have been submitted, while the pages for the Norton project are expected next week, according to chair of the Next Generation School Building Committee, Rich Gusenburg. From there, officials will look at whether the plans remain on budget, and will be adjusted accordingly.
Plans for each school will have to get approvals from the local Planning and Zoning Commission and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, as well as the state Department of Administrative Services. Gusenburg and Cheshire Public
Schools Superintendent Jeff Solan said everything is on schedule for a groundbreaking in December of this year.
“It’s kind of tough because doing two schools, you kind of have to do double everything,” Solan said. “But I’m not complaining about building two schools instead of one.”
Both schools will be powered by a hybrid geothermal system — a combination of geothermal wells and pipes — supplemented with rooftop air handling units for heating and cooling. It’s a compromise from earlier, and costlier, concepts that called for full geothermal systems at both buildings.
Gusenburg said the hope is to add solar panels down the line, but the budget doesn’t currently allow for that.
“The hybrid geothermal system we’re budgeting. And that’s there. But the solar panels — we’re setting up the building for it, all the hookups and everything will be there on the roof,” Gusenburg said. “But the solar panels themselves at the moment, we don’t have the budget for it. If we don’t (include them), then the town, down the line, would be able to add that in.”
Gusenburg explained that a grant program has been set up with energy provider Eversource. If the buildings meet energy efficiency goals, the company will pay $500,000 per building, $1 million total. Gusemburg said the state has approved up to 50% reimbursement for both school projects if they meet requirements.
Solan said he’s excited to walk into the new school buildings when they are finally completed, as the pride and enthusiasm surrounding the projects can’t be quantified. “It’s the feeling that our kids and staff and parents and community will have that I’m most excited to experience when the doors open in 2026,” Solan said.