What’s Next For East Windsor’s School Plan?

EAST WINDSOR, CT — The next steps for a school overhaul estimated at roughly $145 million will be discussed Wednesday, with residents invited to weigh in and state lawmakers expected to attend.

The Ad Hoc Committee on School Renovation Planning will meet Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. in Room A5 at Broad Brook Elementary School, 14 Rye St.

Sen. Saud Anwar and state Reps. Carol Hall and Jaime Foster will join the discussion to offer legislative feedback and guidance, East Windsor Public Schools announced.

“Whether you have children in the district or want to stay informed, we encourage you to attend and share your perspective!” the district said.

The meeting agenda includes project milestones, legislative feedback, a referendum timeline and community outreach. Members are also expected to elect a chair, consider appointments of at-large members and review an updated assignment from the Board of Selectmen. Public participation is included.

The proposal calls for renovating Broad Brook Elementary School and building a new combined middle and high school on the current high school campus, according to the district’s project website.

The Board of Education considers the combined middle/high school the higher priority. District officials say the buildings have aging systems and more space than needed for current and projected enrollment.

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A September 2025 consultant report estimated the elementary renovation at $46.86 million and the new combined school at $98.59 million, for a total of $145.45 million before state reimbursement.

The same report estimated that renovating and expanding the existing high school for both schools would cost $103.06 million — about $4.47 million more than building new. The figures are preliminary estimates based on conceptual designs.

The district’s project FAQ says selectmen have indicated they would recommend up to $30 million in local funding to the Board of Finance. It does not provide a final household tax estimate.

The proposed combined campus would keep middle and high school students in separate wings, with separate cafeterias and gymnasiums. An auditorium, media center and some music spaces would be shared, according to the FAQ. The district says combining the schools would not generate transportation savings.

Patch reported in February that officials were considering a Nov. 3 bond referendum. Wednesday’s agenda calls for discussing the referendum timeline but does not specify a voting date.

Residents can attend in person or use the Google Meet link provided in the agenda. Project documents and updates are available at EWSchoolProject.com.

For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.