Notes from the Old Noank Jail

Groton’s Phase II Program – Concerns

Speaking as a person who does not favor the present Phase II proposal for Groton, nevertheless I do not feel that Phase II should “die” if it is voted down on May 2, 2011. Instead, it should be reviewed, evaluated and brought back again in a revised form after more input from citizens. We need to remember that Phase I itself was initially voted down but then revised and eventually approved by a public vote.

Members of a group favoring Phase II have stated that the planning by Town citizens over the past five years is now being torn down by the opposing side. Yet, if we read minutes of the 2010 Design Committee, their own previous Phase II plan was greatly modified by the Superintendent. He brought in a new consultant who challenged the phase II 2003 plan of the previous consulting firm, which had been produced at a major expense to the Town. The minutes indicate that the previous plans had not favored the Claude Chester School site for reasons of physical size, flooding, traffic congestion and aircraft flight path problems. A local Town historian, following a 1984 nearby plane crash, wondered why the existing school was not therefore closed after such an incident.

The proposal for pre kindergarten school will not be supported by the State and there is no guarantee that it will be mandated in the future. There is additional concern that, although four schools were closed in Phase I, yet the difference between pre- Phase I staffing and the present Phase II budget is only four full time equivalent positions. Moreover, the proposed school budget for next year is 17% higher than the actual expenses during pre- Phase I, yet there are fewer students and four less school buildings. The question remains…did Phase I actually result in a savings to the Town?

As citizens, we are being told that we will pay more taxes if we don’t approve Phase II. Yet, as Groton residents, if we look across the Mystic River at a Stonington house equivalent in value to our own, we can see a property paying far less in taxes than ourselves, despite Groton having two of the largest industrial taxpayers in the State. Some of us feel that it is our Groton school system which is going out of control with costs…and now we face a $133 million project.

In the past month or so, and in line with the Superintendent’s recent backup plan suggestions, the thought of two middle schools could make more sense than the current Phase II plan. As example, Westside Middle School has had recent renovations, the Cutler Middle site has extra physical space for expansion and both sites are still close to areas where children can walk to school, reducing bus costs. Floods, traffic and aircraft do not appear to be major issues at either site.

The addition of a $1 million artificial turf athletic field at Fitch Senior High School as part of Phase II has also raised some eyebrows, especially in these economic times. Many feel that this is an inappropriate expense, having been turned down once previously,but now being added to a very expensive total project. Would a community/school swimming pool be more appropriate? And some folks, myself included, feel that even though these might be excellent times to do construction projects because of lower costs and possible reduced future aid from the State, we still don’t want to be “pressured” to pay the extra future tax money. We also have concerns about how the Groton business establishments will view their increased taxes.

There has to be a better way to accomplish Phase II. Let us hope we can be given that opportunity. Let this actually be the beginning of that process and not the end.