RSD17 Master Plan Project Update: High School Construction
Over the past two years, the Board of Education has been working through a master planning process with input from the community. The Master Plan serves as a long-term strategy to repair, rebuild, or replace the aging school buildings in RSD17. With some structures deteriorating faster than they can be repaired, it is crucial to create safe, accessible, and innovative learning spaces that prepare students to compete in the global economy as the district moves forward into the 21st century.
As part of this plan, the Board has chosen to focus on the high school as the first major project. This decision was made following extensive community feedback and careful planning. Antinozzi Associates has been selected as the architect to guide the project through its next phase, which will involve developing educational specifications, conducting a feasibility study, creating conceptual designs, and estimating costs. The goal is to complete the feasibility study by December 2024, with a referendum anticipated in March 2025.
The project includes several key objectives:
- Achieving Full ADA Compliance: Ensuring the facilities are accessible for all individuals.
- Ensuring Full Title IX Access: Guaranteeing equality for all students.
- Enabling Health & Safety: Implementing modern health and safety measures.
- Generating Sustainability: Creating energy-efficient systems to reduce environmental impact.
- Enriching Learning Spaces: Designing spaces that accommodate diverse learning styles and prepare students for success.
Public engagement is a critical part of the process. Workshops will be held on November 7 and November 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Haddam Killingworth High School, providing community members the opportunity to offer input and ask questions. Optional school tours will take place before the workshops at 5:30 p.m. Each workshop will cover the same content.