Southington's Massive School Project: What You Need To Know

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Southington voters will decide the future of three elementary schools Nov. 3 when they consider an $86.7 million referendum that would fund construction of a new Kelley Elementary School, expand South End Elementary School, and close Flanders Elementary School.

The Southington Board of Education reviewed the massive project during its Oct. 15 meeting, outlining the project's costs, potential tax increases, school consolidation plans, and questions that remain unanswered.

Board Chairman Zaya Oshana said the goal was to provide residents with factual information about the proposal rather than advocate for or against its approval.

Polls will be open Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. as part of state legislative elections.

The referendum would authorize the town to appropriate and issue up to $86,675,560 in bonds and notes for the first phase of its elementary school facilities plan.

The current estimated project cost is approximately $86.4 million, including $78.7 million for Kelley Elementary School and $7.7 million for South End Elementary School.

The proposal includes:

• Kelley Elementary School: Construction of a new, larger school designed for approximately 494 students, with four classrooms per grade level.
• South End Elementary School: Completion of five classrooms on the building's lower level.
• Flanders Elementary School: Closure no earlier than fall 2030, with the building and property repurposed for municipal and community use.
• Redistricting: Changes to elementary school attendance boundaries, expected to be finalized by fall 2029 and implemented in fall 2030.

What Would The Project Cost Taxpayers?

According to the district's estimates, Southington's share of the project would be approximately $39.7 million after state reimbursement.

That figure could decrease to approximately $33.9 million if Connecticut approves additional space-standard waivers and applicable prekindergarten reimbursement.

Final reimbursement amounts would depend on the state's determination of eligible construction costs and reimbursement rates.

District officials said the project would not result in referendum-related tax increases in 2027 or 2028.

The first estimated tax increase would occur in 2029, with a larger impact expected in 2030 as the town phases in borrowing.

The district provided the following estimated monthly tax increases based on property values:

Officials emphasized that the figures are estimates and could change depending on construction costs, interest rates, borrowing schedules, state reimbursement, and the town's taxable property values.

What Happens To Flanders Elementary School?

One of the central components of the referendum is the proposed closure of Flanders Elementary School.

According to the district, Flanders was selected because it is the most underutilized of the three older elementary schools identified as needing significant capital improvements.

The other two schools are Kelley and Derynoski.

Flanders is also geographically close to Hatton Elementary School, while Kelley serves the western portion of town and Derynoski is located in a more densely populated area.

Under the referendum, Flanders would close no earlier than fall 2030.

The building and property would be retained for municipal and community purposes rather than sold for residential development as part of the referendum plan.

However, town officials have not adopted a specific reuse plan.

Potential uses discussed include municipal offices, community services, recreational activities, election functions, storage, and temporary space for other town operations.

The cost of maintaining, renovating, and operating the building after its closure as a school also remains unknown.

Officials said those expenses could include utilities, insurance, security, maintenance, accessibility improvements and renovations.

Would Closing Flanders Save Money?

The district has cited an estimated $900,000 in annual operating savings from consolidating elementary schools.

However, officials cautioned that the figure represents estimated gross savings in the board of education's operating budget, not verified savings for taxpayers.

Any future expenses associated with retaining and repurposing Flanders would have to be considered before determining the project's net financial benefit.

The district said using Flanders as a municipal building could allow the town to spread improvements over several years rather than undertake major school renovations at once.

Town officials could also consider consolidating municipal departments currently housed in other buildings, potentially reducing future maintenance costs or allowing some properties to be sold.

No final decisions have been made regarding those possibilities.

What Happens To Classroom Space?

The district projects that the proposed construction and consolidation would result in a net gain of three elementary classrooms compared with the existing classroom inventory.

The plan would add six classrooms at Kelley and five at South End.

Relocating preschool programs to the new Kelley facility would also free seven classrooms at Strong and Hatton elementary schools.

Those 18 classrooms would offset the loss of 15 classrooms at Flanders.

Combined with 10 currently available classrooms, the district projects a total of 13 available elementary classrooms after consolidation.

Officials said class sizes are expected to remain within existing Board of Education guidelines.

What If Voters Reject The Referendum?

District officials said rejecting the proposal would not eliminate the need for substantial repairs and improvements at the town's older elementary schools.

A 2025 facilities condition assessment identified approximately $105.8 million to $116.4 million in capital improvements needed at Kelley, Flanders and Derynoski elementary schools.

Officials said those estimates involve repairs and building improvements and would not necessarily resolve issues involving enrollment distribution, school capacity, and educational programming.

The district emphasized the repair estimates are not a direct comparison with the proposed referendum project.

If voters reject the referendum, the Southington Board of Education would have to reconsider its approach to school facilities, redistricting, and possible consolidation.

Any subsequent decisions involving school closures or attendance boundaries would require formal board action at public meetings.

During the Oct. 15 meeting, Oshana also discussed the possibility of the referendum failing and the financial challenges associated with addressing the identified capital improvements.

How Long Has The Project Been Discussed?

According to the district, the Facilities Committee has held 20 public meetings on the elementary school facilities proposal since 2020.

Residents have also had opportunities to comment during Board of Education meetings.

The planning process has included enrollment studies, building condition assessments, capacity analyses, construction estimates and evaluations of potential school consolidation options.

Officials said the referendum represents the first phase of a broader effort to modernize the district's elementary school facilities.

Other long-term building needs, including improvements at Derynoski Elementary School, would remain even if voters approve the proposal.

What Happens Next?

If voters approve the referendum Nov. 3, the district anticipates the following timeline:

• 2027-2028: Project development and construction, with no estimated referendum-related tax increase.
• 2029: Estimated tax impact begins, and revised elementary school attendance boundaries are expected to be finalized.
• Fall 2030: New Kelley Elementary School opens, South End's additional classrooms are completed and Flanders closes no earlier than that time.

Officials said several important details would still require further decisions, including final construction designs, state reimbursement amounts, attendance boundaries and a plan for the future use of Flanders.

The district also identified the need for updated cost estimates, borrowing projections and a comprehensive accounting of the financial impact of repurposing Flanders.

For the minutes of the Oct. 15 Southington Board of Education meeting, click on this link.

From Oct. 16: 'Southington 2026 Election Voter Guide: Candidates, Polling Places, Early Voting Details'

From April 22: 'Massive Southington School Project Now Set For A Vote'