Additions for three Norwalk schools in planning stages

By Nancy Guenther Chapman

NORWALK, Conn. – Major construction at three Norwalk schools is planned in the years to come, although it won’t be soon.

The capital budget request approved by the Board of Education Tuesday includes plans to put a one-story addition on the back of Jefferson Elementary School in 2015-2016. A one-story addition to Cranbury Elementary School is planned for construction in 2016-2017. A two-story addition for Columbus Magnet School is planned for 2017-2018.

The construction projects are being delayed because of the need to pay for the switch to Common Core Standards, BOE Chairman Mike Lyons said.

All of the projects were recommended in a 2010 study, documents say.

The Jefferson project will involve removing temporary dividers/bookcases and replacing them with permanent walls. The nine modular units currently behind the school will be removed. The addition will provide nine new classrooms, a new cafeteria and kitchen, support space and bathrooms. Heating and air conditioning systems will be upgraded and everything will be code compliant. The total cost to the city is expected to be $8.306 million.

The pre-K program at Cranbury will be relocated to Silvermine Elementary School in the 2016-2017 plan, making space to expand the library as second-graders are moved into the pre-K space. A new computer lab will be created. The addition will include a new cafeteria and kitchen as well as rooms for art and music. This is budgeted for just over $6 million.

A new cafeteria and kitchen are also in store for Columbus in the 2017-2018 plan. There will be two new classrooms and space for resource and literacy programs over the cafeteria. This is expected to cost $2.6 million.