Town gets permit to expand two schools

The Springfield School District has cleared the final hurdle for its elementary school consolidation project.

---

Springfield gets permit to expand two schools

By Josh O'Gorman, Staff Writer

Rutland Herald - Published: June 25, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield School District has cleared the final hurdle for its elementary school consolidation project.

The district recently received an Act 250 permit for its expansion of Elm Hill and Union Street schools, allowing them to proceed with a nearly $32 million consolidation project.

"We're just really pleased that we can get these projects started on time and get them completed on time," said Superintendent Frank Perotti.

"We're very happy that with Act 250, we can get the projects under way," said Building Committee Chairman Ken Smith.

In January, the district learned the project would be subject to Act 250 following a jurisdictional opinion from the Natural Resources Board. Act 250 rules state any project that disturbs 10 acres or more must have a permit and work at the two schools totaled 10.6 acres, but district officials had hoped the work would be treated as two projects and not a single one.

The permit comes with many stipulations. The district must leave a 50-foot buffer around any streams — one is located near Elm Hill School — and post signs at 50-foot intervals stating "Stream Buffer Do Not Disturb."

The permit also requires the district to repaint all crosswalks along walking routes to the schools for elementary pupils and make improvements to the sidewalk and crosswalk at the intersection of Elm, Douglas and Mark streets.

Smith said work will begin this week at Elm Hill School and the second week of July at Union Street School. Under the consolidation plan, Elm Hill will nearly double to about 50,000 square feet. Union Street will expand by about 11,000 square feet, with the addition of three classrooms, art and music rooms and a cafeteria.

The project is funded by the $32.8 million bond approved by voters in 2006 to improve Elm Hill, Union Street and Park Street schools. In 2008, voters decided to cease using Park Street as an elementary school, paving the way for the district to consolidate its schools.

Smith said the work is scheduled to be completed by summer 2010 in time for the 2010-11 school year. Park Street School will remain open for one more year.

In the meantime, district officials are planning how to divide the town's kindergarten through fifth-grade population into two schools.

"Whenever you close a school, even under the best circumstances, it is a difficult process," Perotti said.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009906250351