Present: T. Koenig, W. Morrison, C. Morrison, M. Morrison, S. Heinrich
Excused: J. Heinrich

S. Heinrich called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. He announced that Assistant Superintendent Chiafery had requested an opportunity to come before the committee on September 11 to discuss the proposed new science curriculum and discuss what impact it might have on any proposed new school. He also reported that the School Board has decided to wait until the Broad Based Committee has completed its report and receive the two reports together. The committee discussed the need to convince the School Board of the need to hear the two reports separately and the need to hear the PBC report as soon as possible.

C. Morrison told the committee that the Broad Based Space Committee was considering proposing the new school be a grade 5/6 upper elementary due to potential lower costs. W. Morrison told the committee that the Broad Based Space Committee was using a construction cost of $80 @ foot. M. Morrison was in favor of the new school being grade 7/8. He brought up traffic and bussing issues in support and also noted that a middle school would provide additional athletic fields that the town needs where an elementary school might only have a simple playground. Discussion ensued about the possibility that the PBC and the Broad Based Committee might end up recommending different options. W. Morrison felt that the two committees should be recommending the same thing. He noted that the Broad Based Committee might recommend one a 5/6 school over a 7/8 school solely based on cost. It was his opinion that the option recommended should be the right thing regardless of the cost differential. He further stated that at this point, costs are only guesstimates. T. Koenig stated that the School Board may decide to suggest the cheaper plan and include the costs to upgrade to the alternative plan in a separate warrant article. The committee decided to revisit the issue after hearing from Mrs. Chiafery.

The committee continued revising the draft document. W. Morrison left the meeting at 9:30 PM and returned at 10:00 PM. There was some discussion about the possibility of moving maintenance to the new school and renovating the space that department occupies.

On a motion from C. Morrison, seconded by W. Morrison, the committee voted unanimously to adjourn at 10:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Last Updated: March 17, 2001 by Wayne Morrison