State funding must come through for LHHS project to move ahead

As published in the Record Journal Thursday December 20, 2012

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD - School officials are moving forward with the hiring an an architect for a new sports complex at Lyman Hall High School, but it remains to be seen if state funding for the project will come through.

A Board of Education subcommittee last month unveiled plans for a new artificial turf football field, a six-lane track and other upgrades to Lyman Hall’s athletic facilities. The price tag is about $1.2 million.

But before the project can be completed, money will need to be approved by the state Bond Commission. The state faces a $365 million shortfall in the current fiscal year, but state Rep. Mary M. Mushinsky, D Wallingford, said funds have already been set aside to pay for municipal projects and she doesn’t expect that account to be slashed.

“The fund still has funds in it,” she said. “I think it’s potentially possible (that the project will be funded).”

Lawmakers approved $525,000 in funding to improve the baseball field at Sheehan High School in 2005, but the money never made it onto the Bond Commission agenda. State Rep. Mary G. Fritz, D Wallingford, said she will request a change in language to the previous legislation to cover upgrades to any sports facilities in town, but the item still needs approval by the Bond Commission, which is far from certain.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Fritz said. “All I can do is try to work it out.”

Mushinsky said lawmakers compete to get items on the Bond Commission agenda, which is set by a combination of lawmakers and state officials. Important factors in getting a project approved include financial and community support from a municipality.

“You need people to be in agreement ... that this is a priority,” Mushinsky said.

There is already $300,000 available to repair the track from money left over from last year’s school budget.

School officials are also seeking other sources of funding. School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo has mentioned applying to the Small Town Economic Assistance Program, a state-run fund that distributes money for municipal projects. The school district also plans to apply for the Worrell Grant, worth about$100,000.

“We’re doing our due diligence,”said Board of Education Chairwoman Roxane McKay.

Board of Education member Kathy Castelli, a member of the subcommittee that worked on the project, said a new field would be safer and allow for greater use by the school’s sports teams. Castelli said she wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of state funding but was optimistic.

“It warrants consideration and I’m hoping that’s the way the state sees it,” she said.

Bids for an architect will be opened next month. Menzo said the district may complete the project in phases if it can’t secure the entire $1.2 million.