The Central Middle School building committee invites all members of the Greenwich community to its fifth engagement forum on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 from 7:00-8:00pm in the school’s auditorium.
For anyone just starting to follow the plans to replace the existing Central Middle School, which dates back to 1957.
It was condemned in Feb 2022.
Students were dispersed to other schools for two weeks while the building was shored up.
The students were able to return to the building, but the repairs were intended to last only five years.
In the two years since the building was condemned, there has been a vocal group of Republicans who insist enrollment will decline and the middle school is being built too big and too expensive. Those in favor of the plans have noted its size is dictated by building codes for schools and the team teaching model. They noted construction costs have escalated due to inflation and some space has already been cut from the plans.
A vocal detractor of the project, RTM member Michael Spilo, who had appointed himself as RTM liaison to the CMS building committee, was not re-elected and is de facto removed from its membership when the new RTM members are sworn in at the January 2024 full RTM meeting. (RTM terms run from January 2024-December 2025).
In October the RTM voted overwhelmingly to approve $42 million (179 Yes; 4 No; 2 Abstain) for the school.
A week prior to that RTM vote, the Board of Estimate and Taxation voted to approve the funding after two outgoing Republican members – Bill Drake and Dan Ozizmir – voted with the six Democrats. Three Republicans – Leslie Tarkington, Harry Fisher and Nisha Arora – abstained and one, Karen Fassuliotis voted no.
Prior to that, the project received the necessary Municipal Improvement approval from the Planning & Zoning commission on Oct 17.
Jan 17th Community Engagement Forum
Representatives from the building committee and project team professionals will be in attendance to share the building and campus design.
Community members in attendance and on Zoom will have an opportunity to share their written comments or questions with the Building Committee.
The session will be broadcast live on Zoom (or dial (646) 558 8656 and use Webinar ID: 899 2411 3658) and recorded for future viewing.
Videos and answers to community-asked questions from the four previous forums are available on the CMSBC webpage on the Greenwich Public Schools website.
Members of the community are encouraged to email the Building Committee with additional comments or questions at [email protected].
Previous community forum write-ups:
Speakers are Impassioned during Fourth Central Middle School Forum
September 2023