By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT – The enrollment capacity is slightly smaller, the overall footprint, slightly larger.

As the Long Lots School building project moves into the construction phase, the Board of Education, meeting remotely on Friday, gave its unanimous approval to final educational specifications that will guide the project.

The school board gave a preliminary OK to what are called “ed specs” two years ago when the project was in the design phase, knowing there would be revisions once the project cleared the approval process. Much of that occurred during the past two weeks with unanimous votes all around.

“The exciting part starts now,” said Jay Keenan, chair of the building committee and a 2nd District RTM member, adding: “And a little more fun.”

Even with the threat of a referendum challenge looming – those opposed to the project cost have until June 26 to secure more than 2,100 signatures from registered Westport voters–it is full steam ahead.

The final ed spec document details the projected enrollment and program spaces down to the number of cubbies, bleacher space capacity in the gym and number of toilets. The process included consultation with faculty and staff at the two schools involved–The K-5 Long Lots Elementary School and Stepping Stones preschool, which is moving from the Coleytown Elementary School campus.

What was essentially a wish list was whittled down to a plan that will replace a 1953 structure that started as a junior high with a 127,000 square foot, safe, modern, and code compliant structure that doesn’t leak. The current school does.

The approved adjustments included pluses and minuses.

• The all-purpose room got slightly larger, by about 100 square feet.
• The cafeteria grew by about the same amount.
• The gymnasium settled slightly under what was originally penciled in.
• The size of Stepping Stones classrooms got slightly smaller based on discussions with the preschool’s director, Megan Clarke.
• General classrooms also ended up slightly smaller.
• Hallways were redesigned, eliminating lockers and reducing the space allocation.
• Added were some break-out spaces, swing offices and small classroom spaces.
• More space was added to the administrative wing and nurse’s office. 
• There is more storage.

Board Vice Chair Dorie Hordon called the plans exciting but asked about the projected enrollment changes.

Keenan said the final document just offers an enrollment range of 585 to 687 rather than a single number.

Board Member Robert Harrington asked about the gym size which, according to the documents, will be between 5,500 and 6,000 square feet with a three-tier bleacher to accommodate 100 spectators.

Keenan said the new gym is about the same size as the existing one although slightly smaller in one direction.

“We were still able to get a spare basketball court in one direction,” Keenan said

Board Member Kevin Christie, an ex-officio member of the building committee, said the panel brought a massive amount of expertise to the process.

“It’s been a pleasure to watch,” Christie said.

Board Chair Lee Goldstein agreed and called it a really long road that started with emergency mold and air quality repairs made to Coleytown Middle School in 2018.

“We haven’t stopped since,” said Goldstein.

“I will not say I am gushing but I am so happy,” Goldstein added. “I know that the real hard work starts now … I just can not wait to be there when you open the doors to this beautiful new, safe, sustainable, dry, welcoming, inclusive and beautiful school.”

Linda Conner Lambeck

^{_{Linda Conner Lambeck covers education for Westport Journal. She was a reporter for more than four decades at the Connecticut Post and other Hearst publications. She has covered education throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties. She is a proud member of the Education Writers Association.}}