Facilities Planning Committee Hears School Closing Options

Members of the Stratford school system’s Long Range Facilities Planning Committee met Monday night, Feb. 7, in the Stratford High School cafeteria and heard a detailed presentation on the feasibility of relocating the Honeyspot House's K-2 program to either adjacent Stratford Academy - Johnson House, or to Lordship School.

In addition, the committee reviewed briefer presentations on the pros and cons of possibly closing four other elementary schools as part of a district wide effort to save money.

The four others have been identified as Franklin, Lordship, Nichols and Wilcoxson elementary schools, respectively.

On Monday night, Philip Michalowsky of Milone & MacBroom of Branford, school facilities planning consultants to the committee, presented a detailed written plan that outlined the options and potential cost savings of a Honeyspot closing.

Honeyspot House, which serves students in grades K-2, is located in south Stratford and shares a 25-acre site with its sister magnet school, Stratford Academy - Johnson House, which serves grades 3-6.

Stratford Academy - Honeyspot House offers innovative programs in curriculum areas including the arts, with a special emphasis on parental involvement and is open to students living anywhere in Stratford.

Monday night's presentation followed one on Jan. 31, where the committee was presented a 37-page report from Milone & MacBroom that outlined school utilization options, including reconfiguring the grades served at all three levels, elementary, middle and high school – which was approved – along with other options including the possible school closing(s) and consolidating and/or reorganizing of individual school districts.

See attached PDF for the full presentation that committee members reviewed at the meeting on Jan. 31.

Long Range Facilities Planning Committee members include:

Committee Chair Joseph Crudo (BOE member)
Norm Aldrich, CPA
Bob Baird, Athletic Director, Stratford High School
Shawnell Budnick, Parent
Robert Cody (Curriculum Committee & Finance Committee member)
Helen Craye (PTA Council President)
Janice Daponte, Board member
Mary Dean (Chamber of Commerce)
Jack Dellapiano, Principal, Flood Middle School
Maureen DiDomenico, SAA President
Joseph Dimenno (School Plant/Planning Committee)
Gavin Forrester, Chairman, Board of Education
Paul Hoydick, Stratford Town Council
David Kennedy, Board member
Dave Killeen, Town Planner, Town of Stratford
Susan Lance, SEA President
Margaret Lasek, Principal, Stratford High School
Eric Lazaro (School Plant/Planning Committee)
Charles Lindberg, Board member
Robert Marinaccio, Greater Bridgeport Board of Realtors
Liz McGoey, Principal, Nichols Elementary School
Kimberly Meuse, Stratford Town Council
Michael Feeney, Chief Operating Officer
Elaine Watson, Assistant Superintendent
Irene Cornish, Superintendent