One of the readers has asked me to inform everyone of the scheduled BET Meeting on Thursday. This is what the PTA Presidents of Old Greenwich School put together:
Please attend the upcoming BET Meeting on Thursday, January 23rd at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room and voice your support of the BOE's 2020-2021 Budget, including Old Greenwich School's designation as a priority school for capital improvements, and ask that the feasibility/design study remain in the 2020-2021 budget.
Built in 1902, Old Greenwich School is the oldest school in our district and not accessible to handicapped students, teachers, parents and other community members. It is long overdue for the installation of an elevator, a variety of accessibility features, new front and side stairs, and expansion/reconfiguration to ensure learning spaces meet the needs of next generation schools.
The BOE has included a design study of Old Greenwich School in its budget in accordance with Greenwich Public School's 15-year Master Facilities Plan. It is critical that this item have community support.
Currently the building presents serious safety issues as well as impediments to learning. The school is spread out across five floors plus a ramp. As a result:
- ● When students have become injured during the academic year, it is not uncommon for a member of staff to have to carry that student up/down the stairs or during a recent incident for the student to receive instruction via video conferencing in an alternate location in the building.
- ● The nurse and administrative offices are not centrally located posing safety issues due to distance.
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● The exterior staircases are safety hazards with concrete crumbling and even missing steps at times posing major tripping
hazards.
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● Given the school's open presence in town and lack of fencing or security the additional wing with enclosed and protected
courtyard under consideration would address obvious capacity and safety issues.
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● Due to the age of the current construction, repairs/upgrades cannot be undertaken by the facilities department for fear of
uncovering issues in the walls (e.g. sufficient water fountains).
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● The renovation plan would also take into consideration mitigation of the flooding that is taking place in our lowest levels
due to the rising water table in Old Greenwich. It would be very disruptive to Greenwich should our school be closed due to
mold as happened to our neighbors in Stamford.
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● Lastly, the school is utilized by the Town of Greenwich as a polling station, but given its lack of ADA compliance it has to
rely on temporary infrastructure to allow for citizens to enter the building.
Old Greenwich School is a historic building that is a showpiece for our town. For many families, it is the hub of our community, where families come together every morning and afternoon on foot or by bike to gather in the school courtyard. Our community needs and deserves an accessible, safe building that can serve all students regardless of their physical abilities and welcome all members of our community.