Officials push for Westhill project to be fast tracked

STAMFORD — City and school officials this week said they would seek a consultant’s help to develop a plan for Stamford’s school buildings in the coming years. But they already are sure of one thing: Westhill High School needs serious work.

Officials have come to the conclusion that a Westhill renovation or replacement is a necessity, Mayor David Martin said this week during a meeting of the Long Term Facilities Committee.

“More than likely, under almost all scenarios,

we are going to have a major renovation at Westhill on the Westhill campus,” he said.

Other school needs are not as clear, which is why the city is getting ready to submit a request for proposals for a vendor to develop a facilities master plan, with an eye on approving it in the first half of 2022.

Last year, a proposal was presented to the Board of Representatives to have a private developer rebuild five schools — Toquam, Hart and Roxbury elementary schools, Cloonan Middle School and Westhill.

But the Board of Representatives rejected the funding to develop that plan.

As officials have looked at different scenarios for rebuilding or renovating schools across the district, doing a project at Westhill — estimated to cost $ 125 million — has been a constant.

“All the scenarios that are possible tend to lead us back to Westhill being Westhill at the Westhill site regardless of any other configuration of buildings,” said Cindy Grafstein, a member of the Stamford Asset Management Group.

Grafstein said the hope is to have the consultant chosen to prepare a school facilities plan also prepare documents to apply for state funding for a Westhill project in the coming year.

“It’s a big ask between now and June 30,” which is the dedline to apply for state construction money, she said. “However, we must take that step in order to at least have a shot for state funding.”

Liz Levy, a Westhill parent, said she was happy to see some progress, but wants more action from the district.

“The issue is I’m still concerned regarding followthrough on promises,” she said.

Levy was behind an online petition this year calling for better ventilation at the school, which still utilizes 1960s-era equipment.

“We need to filter the air to keep our teachers and administrators safe,” she said.

Westhill may not be the only project the city submits to the state for funding.

Martin said there are two other projects to consider. Those would involve the building at 83 Lockwood Ave., which used to be the home of the Trailblazers Academy and is owned by the city; and a potential new home for the Anchor program, which is designed for struggling middle school and high school students, at a site on North Street.

Martin said the goal is to move Anchor into the North Street building by September of next year.

The Lockwood project would involve a complete renovation or tear down, Martin said, and would cost around $ 60 million. There are currently around 400 students who attend preschool in the building currently, Martin said.

Finding funding to do all three projects will be a major challenge for the city. Martin said Sandy Dennies, director of administration, set a safe debt limit of $40 million a year.

Martin said he thinks the city could issue as much as another $ 20 million, but the city would still need substantial help from the state.

“I really believe that it’s time for the state to take some more responsibility in funding the Stamford school system than it has for the last 40 years,” he said.