[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6047614,"mediaKeyId","3531540-137d32d3860e9a7f4c91dc75519a4f57","parentId",3531540,"title","Parents press board on class sizes, extracurricular access, pool and planetarium in single‑high‑school plan","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5578000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3531540-137d32d3860e9a7f4c91dc75519a4f57&start=5578&end=5578","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3531540-137d32d3860e9a7f4c91dc75519a4f57/thumbnail_5578000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6047614/Connecticut/Parents-press-board-on-class-sizes-extracurricular-access-pool-and-planetarium-in-singlehighschool-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047614-2dbc0c8937f95f4dd8d18a53179897ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454029&Signature=NrPhp9j3cX62rvUSEJc0YyjeHJmc~Xs~yNSfz6iiS17i3yDjtSF8ZLQDEWawVOjf0GRC~qbfGMB-LViCFmBdiwON9IYlj5ZkzenMutSiugbHRxD9g4IDcKNbin2PBGNwIeftOws6V~kYiTvEyGes-qUMhiJFecGL5vtAyvX8OnIl3ci6WKgDzN78PrT7Hyds~1dfJpWYVZZoDVYlZu71rO-k2nLuXLtXrywuiSC-RYRd0QBeWLV~RHPLwpWjDToohF91Twn5c0UVwLOAoYOgarxufUkxkuBpsHU7eTFmLsMG4W5IlO6rlf8su6huBB9opPs0COcYYVZorRS4nJ~kEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wallingford Public Schools","date","2025-05-03T00:00:00Z","article","At the May 3 forum, parents, students and teachers pressed the board about how a consolidated high school would affect class sizes, electives, athletics rosters and specialty facilities such as a pool and the planetarium.

Several speakers warned that larger consolidated enrollment could reduce opportunities for students who currently participate in teams, theater or smaller elective classes. Brandy H. said cuts to teams and performing arts \"make a difference if it's your kid,\" noting the ripple effect across many sports and arts programs. Jen Brencher and others urged the board to preserve pool access, saying the facility supports competitive and community swimming programs.

District curriculum staff responded that consolidating two schools can make some courses feasible that currently cancel for low enrollment at each school. A staff member explained the district reviews course enrollment annually and sometimes collapses levels when numbers are low; in a single high school, courses that previously had, for example, five students at each site could combine into a runable section. The staff member also said dual‑enrollment partnerships and CTE pathways are used to expand student options.

Public commenters also sought clarity on athletic field capacity and the Field Support Building (FSB) footprint; the district said land and field layouts will be part of site planning and cost estimates. On specialized facilities, a Colliers representative said state funding for a natatorium is limited and most of a pool’s cost typically falls to local taxpayers, though consultants can price both pool and no‑pool options for community consideration. The panel said the planetarium could be considered if its use can be justified as regular curricular space rather than an occasional theater.

Speakers asked for detailed, side‑by‑side comparisons of current program offerings versus projected opportunities in a consolidated school, and for estimates of local tax impact per mean assessed home. District and consultant staff said those comparisons, cost options and tax‑impact estimates will be developed as part of the next phase and presented to the town council for consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wallingford Public Schools Educational Specifications Community Forum - May 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parents and students raised concerns that consolidation and the draft ed specs could reduce opportunities for sports, arts and elective courses; district staff said consolidation could make some low‑enrollment courses feasible, but athletics roster limits and facility needs (fields, pool, FSB) remain unresolved and may carry local costs.","taxTitle","Wallingford School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",38279,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6047620,"Teachers and parents question 'pod' classroom model, urge more teacher space in Wallingford ed specs",2448,1401000,3849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3531540-137d32d3860e9a7f4c91dc75519a4f57&start=1401&end=3849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3531540-137d32d3860e9a7f4c91dc75519a4f57/thumbnail_1401000.jpg","/articles/6047620/Connecticut/Teachers-and-parents-question-pod-classroom-model-urge-more-teacher-space-in-Wallingford-ed-specs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047620-540ab4aaf1112705d2045ad8600d2184/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454029&Signature=NFmiCSOuqq6LoFioEtoKQTMkZWUrs7K3q9Y9Ejr9r77CgkPgXzuWwwCoyk8mgAAJtAolyyi3FGGvsKpm3bj1u5I0t11q-QWW5PwDEmrLZIqNBZXP5VM79V6xgPevB21ZShccxyyfhPxuJrt2s0rZrDamSQBsY0-RJgW949fpBAZG9isYkkymtJZiAt2927lWjHgWH6-l5q67SD0l4qz4gNZlK1KuzMRCu8m6DwktLe0A52hoLGFSBGeOe1hs22zydBC6SB~r4Tiv6etkEajq5J--St2RzRt4lIYdvhDkRKkM1qs0e7ymciORiy7MSCsfLHl4boRTofjivcQ73aeApA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several teachers and parents at the May 3 forum urged the board to reconsider portions of the draft educational specifications that call for shared teacher \"pods\" rather than individual classrooms.

Catherine Monaghan, an elementary teacher, said she \"would love to go in‑depth\" but emphasized that \"having your own room makes a drastic difference\" for planning, small‑group instruction and confidential meetings. Tricia Perron, a Sheehan teacher, said staff were asked about \"what would be great about a new high school\" but not specifically surveyed about pods; she told the forum, \"I don't know of a teacher that would think this is a good idea.\"

Speakers described how individual rooms currently serve multiple purposes during prep time—small‑group instruction, special education pull‑outs, after‑school meetings and assessment makeups—and said shared workrooms could limit those uses. Multiple commenters warned that larger class sizes and fewer teacher‑assigned rooms could make it harder to identify and support students who are struggling.

Consultants and district staff responded that state reimbursement standards and modern building guidelines have changed since Lyman Hall (1950s) and Sheehan (1971) were constructed. A Colliers representative said architects \"are going to design in an area for expansion\" on site plans and will size utilities and sprinkler lines to permit future additions. Staff reiterated that making every teacher's room a permanent, single‑occupancy classroom would increase building square footage beyond the state's reimbursable limit and place more cost on local taxpayers.

Members of the public asked the board to provide a concrete analysis showing how many classrooms would be required for a model that gives each teacher a private classroom versus the pod approach, and to share that analysis before finalizing ed specs. The board and consultants said that comparative figures and cost options will be part of follow‑up materials and future meetings.","Multiple teachers and parents told the forum the draft ed specs' shift toward shared \"pod\" teacher spaces raises concerns about teacher prep time, confidential student meetings and special education breakout needs; consultants said pods reflect current state design standards and that architects will size expansion areas on site plans.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6047625,"Wallingford board seeks public input on high school ed specs, aims for state grant by mid-2026",6167,508000,6675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3531540-137d32d3860e9a7f4c91dc75519a4f57&start=508&end=6675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3531540-137d32d3860e9a7f4c91dc75519a4f57/thumbnail_508000.jpg","/articles/6047625/Connecticut/Wallingford-board-seeks-public-input-on-high-school-ed-specs-aims-for-state-grant-by-mid-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6047625-9f54d5cafd4acaf7b0d1a273e58226ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454029&Signature=lTjMV~ohwnhClLIAi-3S~iZtWLdBl0M1Hcmff~oPLN-YeZMoF9Am~k0Dq4jOMyGr96Z1seDzjWolOr06g1EGHWUlAPMylu69L99bNWLB16eWN5~NwuIS36dqnrthQfqTBVt2V3g7B0rK-BtcYoNd1x-Omyf5901C5MXOQMAcXQqbDEqIXa6dZyJ3I6RmxMHjV7ZL8MzcKfvHcSBqu5qUBTcFGMRB1Kfb5nKAigSFf~eUi1d4CQJeRamAObE-areBRZuDHeeoxvclt31JBuvtORm13xhyguWAEcKBN6XlJ4WkyiCfm~D6Hg0OVfYEi5ycUc4BRGuQFO-kz18UpsZyZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wallingford Board of Education held a community forum on May 3 to solicit feedback on draft educational specifications for a proposed consolidated high school, emphasizing that the board must adopt final ed specs before seeking state reimbursement and town approval.

Superintendent Belizzi noted that the board previously voted in February 2023 \"to consolidate to 1 high school,\" and that the ed specs are intended to translate the district's educational priorities into building requirements. She told attendees the district hired Colliers to develop a 10‑year capital plan and to draft the ed specs after gathering input from teachers, administrators and departmental leaders.

Scott Pelham of Colliers told the forum the next steps are to convert the ed specs into cost ranges and site‑specific estimates. \"When we budget the project, we will include both design and construction contingencies,\" Pelham said, adding that costs will include land, design, contingencies and year‑over‑year escalation. Pelham said Colliers will provide separate pricing for optional features such as a pool or auditorium so the community can compare base and add‑on scenarios.

Superintendent Belizzi described a target schedule tied to state funding deadlines: the district is \"hoping right now, to be able to do that probably, you know, February, March\" for board approval of ed specs and aims \"to try to apply for a grant by June thirtieth of 20 26.\" She said, if funding and approvals align, construction and opening could take five to six years, which is the basis for the current estimate of a fall 2031 opening.

Board and consulting staff described additional studies the district will need before a final package goes to town council, including transportation and traffic studies, and noted that the land purchase cost is separate from building cost. The board plans to return to regular board meetings to consider public feedback and revise the ed specs before a formal vote to finalize them and present an overall project cost range to the town council.

The board emphasized that state reimbursement rules and the district's fiscal capacity will affect what elements the town can expect to receive funding for and what will carry a local cost burden. The forum closed with board members inviting more written questions and noting future meetings will consider the feedback gathered at the forum.","School officials reiterated that the educational specifications (ed specs) are being finalized in parallel with a search for a neutral site; Colliers will produce cost ranges (with options) and the district hopes to apply for state funding by June 30, 2026, with a projected opening window around fall 2031 if the project moves forward.","actionData","errors"]

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Parents press board on class sizes, extracurricular access, pool and planetarium in single‑high‑school plan

Teachers and parents question 'pod' classroom model, urge more teacher space in Wallingford ed specs

Wallingford board seeks public input on high school ed specs, aims for state grant by mid-2026