By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — Two locations on the Long Lots Elementary School campus are suitable for a new school to be built while students continue to attend classes in the existing building, a new study indicates.

QA&M, the Farmington architectural firm hired to conduct the so-called “test fit” of the Hyde Lane property as school officials decide whether to repair or replace the aging school, will have representatives at Monday’s Board of Education meeting to present the options.

Along with two locations — either the parking lot on one side of the property or the ballfields on the opposite side — options presented to the board include drawings of the new school both with and without including the district’s Stepping Stones preschool.

Stepping Stones is currently housed at Coleytown Elementary School, where there are space restraints.

A favored site if new school is built

In his memorandum to the school board, Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice said that, of the four options presented, the administration recommends “2A” — locating a new school, including Stepping Stones, where ballfields are now.

He said the recommendation is made in conjunction with the school district’s consulting architects and partners from Colliers Project Leaders.

Board Chairwoman Lee Goldstein on Sunday had no comment, indicating she doesn’t know anything about the proposals other than what is in the packet sent to board members in advance of the meeting.

Goldstein, in an email, said she is “looking forward to the presentation like everyone else.”

Scarice reminded the board that, in addition to the test fit, the study to determine the best way to address the Long Lots building envelope and mechanical problems, includes a review of other issues. These include hazardous materials abatement that would need to be done in the existing structure, space and enrollment needs, the school’s instructional model and statutory school construction reimbursement guidelines that ultimately will determine how much aid the state will contribute for the project.

State aid for renovation vs. replacement

A state-approved renovation of the existing building could mean 11 percent reimbursement. Approval for a newly built school could result in the state footing up to 21 percent of the construction cost.

Scarice said he wants the board to review the test fit before everything else because it is the most consequential factor. It will take a subsequent meeting to decide whether to build a new Long Lots or renovate the building as new.

A comprehensive report on the condition of Long Lots, once a junior high school, was presented to the school board in January.

Built in 1953, Long Lots has had ongoing maintenance issues and problems with leaks, mold and the heating and cooling systems. The mechanical and electrical systems are also deteriorating, according to the district’s construction consultants.

The building is “aging out,” consultants said.

Long Lots is the largest of the town’s five elementary schools with about 580 students. Even so, its classrooms and common areas were built with middle school students in mind.

If the district renovates the building, it needs to be able to show it can still appropriately use the building footprint eight years from now.

Adding Stepping Stones preschool to the mix should help in that respect.

Linda Conner Lambeck is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Westport Journal. Learn more about us here.