Jefferson Elementary School, new Columbus at Ely projects advanced
Renovations remain on target, applications to be submitted this month
NORWALK — Renovations to Jefferson Elementary remain on target and the project’s application will be submitted to the state this month, after the Common Council approved it Tuesday.
The Common Council also approved the application for the new Columbus School at Ely to be sent to the state, on the off chance a land swap goes through in time to meet the state’s June 30 deadline, Council President Tom Livingston said.
“We've taken a number of actions, the council, in support of the Board of Education's Facilities Master Plan, including moving forward
the Jefferson project, (which is) renovate as new for state approval,” Livingston said.
According to Norwalk Building and Facilities Manager Alan Lo, the problem stems from a delay in the approval from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection of a land-swap agreement, submitted in fall 2018, that would see open space transferred from the vicinity of the old Ely School to a plot in West Norwalk, near Norwalk Community College.
“The plan has always been that we would build a new Columbus School at Ely, then move the kids from Columbus into there. The timing for that project is being delayed because we still
haven’t gotten approval from the state for the open space land swap,” Lo said last week.
Even if the application is not submitted this year, the school district will be ready to submit it last year and the vote could also serve as a sign of the council’s support to move ahead with the project, Livingston said.
“Also (we’re) approving the Board of Education resubmitting the so-called new Columbus school project for state approval on the very remote chance that we get approval of the land swap before the end of the month — unlikely but this is a show of support from this council,” he said.
The council tabled the resolution to approve the Columbus at Concord, also known as the Norwalk Global Academy, application because of the swap delay,
Livingston said, not because of the debate surrounding whether the school should be renovated as new or torn down to have a new school built on the site.
“The delay there pushes back this project, making it impossible to start construction within two years of state approval which is a requirement from the state,” Livingston said. “There's no point in submitting this now, in fact the state would rather us not do it. I also want to note that this delay has nothing to do with the recent debate over whether to build a new school on the Concord Street site or renovate the existing building.”
Resident Tod Bryant spoke in favor of keeping the existing structure due to its historic value to the neighborhood. Bryant read from a book on the city’s history, which stated that the
cornerstone for the Columbus school was laid at a parade in 1938.
“The cornerstone, purchased through every Italian American organization in Norwalk, was laid for the Columbus school,” Bryant said. “This was a tremendously symbolic event and the school — it was symbolic of the fact that the Italian American community had taken its place in Norwalk as an important element of the city. I don't think that should be lost to history.”
The council also approved the reallocation of school district funds to cover shortfalls in the Jefferson, New Columbus and Norwalk Global Academy budgeted amounts. The additional funds that would have been allocated to build a new school for the Norwalk Global Academy
were tabled.
The Jefferson project received an additional $5.45 million, moving its total budgeted amount up to $33.6 million. New Columbus at Ely received an additional $3.48 million, bringing its total budgeted amount up to $45.9 million. Norwalk Global Academy received an additional $4.65 million, bringing its total budget up to $35.9 million.
Mayor Harry Rilling said that continued investment in the schools was central to student success.
“We're investing a lot of money in our students,” he said. “We're investing a lot of money in our infrastructure. The results, I think are paying off.” kelly.kultys@hearstmediact.com