Submitted by Nisha Arora
Nisha Arora is a member of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET). She is also a member of the Central Middle School Building Committee, serving as the BET’s representative.
BOE member Laura Kostin’s personal and vicious attack against me (my name is mentioned ten times) is unnecessary and grossly inaccurate in both title and substance. (Kostin: Obstruction & Obfuscation: The Plot to Downsize and Delay CMS December 11, 2022) I would like to remind the author that I serve on the BET to further the public cause and have no private interest in this matter. This letter is in poor taste. I provide below the facts for the reader to make their own conclusion.
First, I have been a strong proponent that the CMS be built on an expedited timeline (Mar 2022 oped). Earlier this year, in budget hearings, I encouraged a plan with a Fall 2024 open. However, the BOE used process reasons to propose a 2026 open. How can this project be an emergency build yet take nearly five years?
Second, the discussion on size and scope should be thoughtful. Central’s school enrollment is expected to average 450 students over the decade, but the building is being designed for 660 students. An 80-90,000 square foot building seems more appropriate. A slight reduction in the scope would not only help the budget but would also reduce the carbon emissions footprint by 25%.
Finally, most building professionals believe a $500/sqft to be a reasonable budget in today’s environment. The Superintendent/BOE asked for a $600/sqft budget for a 100,000 square foot earlier this year.
Based on this request, the BET allocated $60 million for this build. However, some building committee members have shown no regard for the budget in interviewing and selecting the vendors. They have chosen firms associated with projects that are being investigated for excessive costs and grants. The high price ($750-800/sqft) builds mean inefficiency or big profits somewhere in the system.
Prudent public policy demands that we build a high-quality school of the appropriate size on a reasonable budget. If there is no regard for budget, we could end up with an additional burden of $3000 per household – which would be a hardship for many families in town. Any notion that I am trying to delay and obstruct is sheer nonsense. If all stakeholders – BET, BOE, and Building Committee work together with respect and consideration for each other’s ideas, we will build the perfect school for the next generation.