By:Karenlyn Barone
The tour was on Saturday morning, Jan. 15, and about 45 residents attended, along with the superintendent of school, Dr. Arnold Dodge, school principals, administrators, the architect John Grillo and school board members.
The first school visited was the newest - Rhame Avenue Elementary School. Principal Laura Guggino conducted the walkthrough and pointed out, among other things, the areas of under-utilized space the bond would renovate to instructional space, the over-utilized burner which is currently too small for the heating needs of the school and the folding table in the upstairs hall, where some students take daily lessons.
"Even though the school is new we are talking about floor space," said Guggino.
Case in point, students receive occupational or physical therapy at the back of the stage in the auditorium. Also, the upper level of the library is unusable as instructional space, since it is not soundproof, and holding class there, interferes when other students are attending library class below.
"Our hope is to take this space and give the English as a second language teacher and her students a home and use the other side of the room for the social worker," said Guggino.
The upper level atrium outside the library is roomy and used for art displays and hosting special events such as the science fair. But, with the need for instructional space a priority, the bond proposes to renovate that space into a much needed conference room, and the existing conference room is slated to become an additional classroom.
"The cost to renovate this space is nominal," said resident Vicky Cordova, referring to the atrium. "This is a no-brainer."
The school kitchen would also be renovated so that it would prove functional to prepare the food there for both elementary schools. At present, all the food, for all three district schools is prepared, in the morning, at the high school, in cramped quarters.
"I can tell you that by the time the food gets here, it is cold," said parent and lunchroom volunteer Christine Jaskowiak.
The bond projects the cost for the renovations at Rhame Avenue School to be $1,303,900.
After the tour concluded at Rhame Avenue, the district provided a bus to take residents to the high school for a tour conducted by Athletic Director Dom Vulpis and High School Principal William Fortgang.
The crowd was ushered into the boys locker room first, where they experienced first-hand the need for ventilation. The bond proposal suggests an updated ventilation system, new lockers, and complete bathroom renovations in both the boy's and girl's locker rooms.
"Our number one priority is to make this area safe," said Vulpis. "Right now, I cannot see everyone at one time when they are in this area. And nevermind that the lockers are raggedy, they are unsafe. Someone could get cut on them."
The locker rooms are used by physical education students, team athletes and are also made available to visiting teams. Vulpis stated that the teachers and students do well with what they have, but the condition of the physical education facility was an eye-opener for some residents.
"Its a disgrace," said Carolyn Harris who toured with her husband Sam. "The locker facility is dirty and its embarrassing. It's like inviting someone into a dirty, unsafe home."
Harris went on to say that "the PE department is falling apart," and while others may not see sports as a big part of education, she does.
"It's all part of educating a well-rounded child," said Harris.
Lindsay Rafferty is a junior who is a member of the National Honor Society and participates in three varsity sports.
"Our locker rooms are gross," she said pointing to a stained sink in the girls area. "There is no ventilation and it smells bad."
Part of the bond proposal would also use what is now 5,500 feet of tech instructional space, to provide a locker room for outdoor sports and a separate area for weight training.
"Many people don't realize how much education has changed in 20 years," said Principal Fortgang. "This building has been piece-mealed together over the last 20 years."
Notably, the alarm system does not sound in every classroom, so certain sections of the building must be called on the intercom to tell them about a fire drill, or of a potential danger.
The bond issues also calls for the addition of several instructional areas. Many students are forced to take tests in what is virtually closet space and the bond would capitalize on the added space with four new classrooms and a new science lab. New hallway lockers and reconstruction of the existing bulkhead against the Mill River located in the school's back yard are also part of the proposal.
Principal Tim Silk took residents on a tour of Centre Avenue School, which was built in 1926. One of the benefits to the school, should the bond be approved , would be a 3,600 foot library/computer lab that would free up two classrooms, the creation of two additional instructional spaces by renovating the balcony in the all-purpose room and general construction that would address asbestos removal, ceiling replacement, corridor bathroom reconstruction and to make the building handicap accessible.
"Right now, if we have a child who is unable to walk up the steps, they are carried by myself or one of the teachers," Silk told the shocked residents.
The bond would include plans to add an elevator and two chairlifts so that students in need could navigate the steps. A portable wheelchair life would also be installed.
At the conclusion of the tour, resident Jennifer Matelli spoke candidly. Upon hearing about the bond, her first reaction was, "no good!"
"I thought the numbers were inflated" said Matelli. "But now that I've taken the tour and seen first-hand, I do see a need for about 65 percent of what is proposed in the bond."
