Southington BOE Adopts $173.7M Facility Plan to Rebuild Kelley Elementary, Close Flanders

Southington Board Votes 8-1 on School Overhaul

The Southington Board of Education adopted a Master Facility Plan on February 19 that would rebuild Kelley Elementary School, expand South End Elementary and close Flanders Elementary. The 8-1 vote sets the stage for a spring referendum on the first phase of a project estimated at $173.7 million.

Board member Derynoski-Anastasio cast the lone dissenting vote during the Committee of the Whole meeting. The remaining eight members — Baczewski, Brown, Cammuso, Carmody, Carson, Clark, Oshana and Whitehead — voted in favor of the plan, designated D-2, which was recommended by the Districtwide Facilities Committee.

The proposal now moves to the Board of Finance and Town Council for review before going to a town-wide referendum, expected this spring.

Phase 1: New Kelley, Bigger South End, No More Flanders

The first phase calls for constructing a new Kelley Elementary School to replace the current building, which opened in 1966 and operates at 74% utilization. The plan also includes an expansion of South End Elementary School.

Flanders Elementary would close under the plan. The school currently operates at just 63% utilization, the lowest rate in the district. Students from Flanders would be redistricted across the seven remaining elementary schools in Southington.

The town's share of the first phase would come from $97.2 million in bonds, with the remainder covered by state reimbursement. The full two-phase project carries a price tag of $173.7 million.

Some parents have called for the Kelley rebuild timeline to be accelerated, citing the aging facility's outdated HVAC systems and rising operational costs. The closure of Flanders has drawn more mixed reactions, with some residents expressing attachment to the school and concern over longer commutes for redistricted students.

Town leaders have suggested Flanders could be repurposed for municipal use, potentially consolidating town departments into the building.

Phase 2: New Derynoski and Karen Smith Academy

A second phase, contingent on a separate future referendum, would replace Derynoski Elementary School and establish a new Karen Smith Academy on the lower level of the Derynoski site. That phase could come five or more years after the first, according to district planning documents.

No cost breakdown for Phase 2 alone has been made public. The $173.7 million total covers both phases of the project.

Student Trips to Europe, Costa Rica and Atlanta Approved

The board also unanimously approved three out-of-state student trips during the same meeting. Students will travel to Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris on one trip, with a separate trip to Costa Rica and a third trip to Atlanta for a DECA conference.

The board additionally approved educational specifications for roof replacements at Hatton, Strong and Thalberg Elementary Schools.

New Courses Coming to Southington Schools

Several new and revised courses received first-reading approval from the board. Among them are Agricultural Science programs covering mechanics, small animals and large animals, a new Unified Physical Education course at the high school, a middle school digital and health course, and an Electricity and Electronics Applications course for STEM students.

Policy revisions covering public complaints, budget and financial statements, staff hiring, recruitment and retention, and attendance and truancy were also introduced for first reading.

What Comes Next for the Facility Plan

Southington Public Schools serves 6,242 students across 13 schools, including eight elementary buildings, two middle schools, a high school and an alternative high school. The district employs more than 725 staff members under Superintendent Steven G. Madancy.

The facility plan represents the largest capital investment in the district's elementary infrastructure in decades. Residents will have the final say when the referendum reaches the ballot this spring. Meeting agendas, minutes and facility plan documents are available on the Southington Board of Education's BoardBook page.

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