Riverside School

Building Renovation Project

The Renovation Project Proposal ("Ed Specs")

Approved by the Board of Education

At its monthly business meeting on February 20th, the Board of Education discussed the Riverside educational specifications which provide the roadmap for the building renovation project. Apart from removing the addition of two Pre-K classrooms, the proposed ed specs were unanimously approved (with one member absent) as is.

While many details still need to be worked out in the ensuing phases of the project, the BOE's approval of the ed specs was another critical step in moving the renovation project forward. This endorsement solidifies the scope of the project, which will give the building what it needs:

• Accessibility, safety, and security upgrades
• A comprehensive renovation that brings the building into the 21st century
• An addition that provides room to enlarge small spaces and create additional designated areas for specialized instruction, student support and large group programming

The ed specs were initially presented to the BOE on January 16th, along with public comments from members of our school community. At a minimum, we encourage you to take a peek at:

Conceptual Design
A concept (pages 47-49) for how the proposed changes could be placed within the building, for the purposes of illustrating what is possible. Detailed design plans aren't created and finalized until the next phases of the project.

Possible Timeline
A schedule (page 80) used to develop the $45.5mm project cost estimate, which shows work on the building beginning as early as November 2026, if it is funded accordingly.

The Renovation Project Can Only Happen if it Gets Funded!

The town's annual budget process has begun.

The BET's vote to approve the town's annual budget and capital plan on April 1st will determine if the project can advance to its next phase ($2mm Design). Until then, we will be listening to any public BET discussions about the project.

The next key meeting is the BET Budget Committee decision meeting on March 4th from 9am-4pm, where the Budget Committee will take its first pass at the budget—voting to add, remove or amend certain items—before it goes to the full BET. You can livestream on GCTV’s YouTube channel. 

February Update 

As the town’s annual budget setting process continues, the BET had an opportunity to dig into the proposed schools operating & capital budget on February 7th with Dr. Jones, other district officials, and BOE representatives present to answer questions. The Riverside renovation was discussed during this meeting, with the conversation focusing on:

• A building expansion at Riverside would increase capacity in the district at a time when K-12 enrollment has been declining, with the possibility of a school closure or redistricting being suggested. However, the district’s overall building utilization remains relatively unchanged as reductions in K-5 class sections have been offset by additional Pre-K sections.

• At more than $45mm, some questioned if a new school could be built for roughly the same amount. Others countered that 1) the building is worth preserving given its historical charm & features, and 2) the renovation gives the building what it needs, whereas a new build would include other features that come at an additional cost.

• Some questioned the feasibility of moving walls in an older building like Riverside. Others noted that this would be evaluated, and an actionable plan developed for achieving this, in the next phase (Design/A&E) of the project.

January Recap

Thank you to everyone who emailed local officials, attended meetings or spoke in support of our project in a public forum in January. We capped off that month's efforts with Riverside speakers & attendees, dressed in red, at the January 28th BET meeting who made a convincing argument for supporting the project with a number of powerful and moving speeches. Read a recap that quotes a number of our speakers and watch the recording:

• Mitch V, Jason M, Carey B (10 mins)
• Alonso G, Alyssa L, Betsy M, Emily K, Katherine B, Virginia L, Caitlin W (20 mins)
• Jamie W, Pam K (5 mins)

What’s more, we were encouraged to see that First Selectman Camillo prioritized the Riverside renovation project in his proposed budget with $2mm Design in FY25-26 + $48mm Construction in the FY26-27 capital plan. While the BET could make changes to this, Mr. Camillo's support was a necessary first step in getting this project funded.

Want to Learn More About the Renovation Project?

View the presentation slides from the January 9th Zoom info session. Please share them with friends and neighbors outside of the Riverside School parent community.

Questions? Email riversideschoolrenovation@gmail.com.