This report conveys the findings of the 41 member Community Advisory Site Selection Committee ("Committee") and is intended to be the first in a series of steps, culminating in the advancement of a comprehensive solution to Ridgefield’s school overcrowding situation in grades K-8. The Boards of Education ("BOE") and Selectmen ("BOS") are to continue the process and finalize a solution that is to be presented to the voters of Ridgefield for their consideration and ratification. We charge the Boards of Education and Selectmen to consider very carefully the observations, issues and concerns raised in this report and to quickly bring forth a solution to our school overcrowding situation that is both educationally sensitive and fiscally responsible.

At the request of the First Selectman and the Superintendent of Schools, volunteers from the community were solicited, through a public notice placed in The Ridgefield Press, to serve on this advisory committee. The Committee was created to assist the Boards of Education and Selectmen in identifying the best town-owned sites for housing 1,000 students in the K-8 continuum and solve our student accommodation problem. Over 70 individuals volunteered to serve on this committee. With the drawing of names by Mr. Macklin Reid, Editor of The Ridgefield Press, and Mr. Martin Carr, long-time Ridgefield resident, in a process open to the public, 34 permanent committee members and 4 alternate members were selected. Also on the committee were 7 advisory, non-voting members. A complete list of committee members is included as Attachment 1. The size of the committee and the random selection process used were chosen to insure that the committee would be non-partisan and in its makeup, representative of the town at large.

It was decided by the BOE and the BOS that the Committee was limited to considering town-owned properties in an effort to accelerate the selection process and maximize fiscal efficiencies in solving the student accommodation problem. After a preliminary review of all 32 parcels of town-owned land, a working list of 14 possible locations, including the five existing elementary schools, was selected for further consideration by the committee.

The determining factors in this initial elimination process as listed, in the Site Elimination Factors, chart were: Location, Slope, Topography (rock ledge), Environmental: Wetlands, Flora and Fauna, Septic/Well issues, Traffic, Zoning and Existing Leases. This chart details important factual information associated with each of these 14 sites and is shown on pages 3 and 4.

It should also be noted that the one, non-town-owned site, mentioned in the Committee’s charge, namely The Congregation of Notre Dame property, is absent from this list. Subsequent to the formation of this committee and just prior to our initial meeting on December 22, 1998 the town was informed that the owners had entered into an agreement-in-principle to lease the property to a third party. As such, this site was removed from consideration by the committee.

After considerable dialogue and analysis of given materials, including the prior Site Selection Committee Summary Report dated January 23, 1998, and the Land-Tech Consultants, Inc. Comparative Site Evaluation Report dated October 27, 1997, the Committee voted to recommend the following five sites along with possible expansion of the existing elementary schools for further study and assessment by the BOE and BOS. These sites may be considered individually or in tandem with other recommended locations, as noted. They are presented here in alphabetical order and no preference should be ascribed to their placement:

• The committee also recommends that the BOE and BOS consider the expansion of existing K-5 elementary schools as a standalone solution or as a possible component of a solution to the student accommodation problem.

The refined scope of the Committee’s charge constrained us from thoroughly investigating many important issues as thoroughly as necessary to determine a complete solution. This limitation frustrated several committee members and makes it imperative that the BOE and BOS comprehensively address the observations, concerns and issues raised by this representative Town Committee. Town officials should clearly articulate their plan for subsequent action and demonstrate their ability to expeditiously resolve this issue if they are to have the confidence of the voters. The BOE and BOS are strongly encouraged to continue the practice of giving interested citizens the opportunity to directly participate in this process. What follows are several issues and observation that the committee expects to be addressed as the process moves forward:

The key decision drivers should be:

• The Preservation of High Educational Standards

• The decision on site(s) should not result in a diminution of our educational program standards. Strive for, at least, educational neutrality in any final solution.

• Long-term Value vs. Short-term Cost

• Emphasis must to be on sound long term educational solutions and long term economic value.
• Plan with flexibility for future growth

• "Time is of the Essence"

• Crowding is already upon us and worsening

• Future State reimbursement is likely to decrease

• Complexity of Alternatives

• Complex solutions may result in less certainty about ultimate cost
• Complex solutions may be more difficult to execute
• Complex solutions may be more difficult to communicate successfully

• Cost

• Ensure that cost estimates have clearly stated assumptions and requirements.

• Ensure that all cost aspects are included (e.g. have ongoing operating and personnel costs been considered? Have site preparation costs been considered? Have all prudent as well as required upgrades been considered?)

• Ensure that the interplay with state reimbursement is reflected in any net total cost to the community.

• Ensure that town officials communicate these costs in terms of individual taxpayers.

• Ensure that cost estimates come from professionals with indisputable credentials.

The following Summary of Key Differentiating Factors, shown on page 7, provides an overview of considerations for each scenario and site including complexity, time, value, and factors that could increase, decrease, or make costs less certain.

To respond to the charge given to the committee by Dr. Wallace and the Selectmen, committee members were provided with pertinent documents for their review and meeting dates were established to cover assigned topics. Meeting dates and the stated agenda for the meetings are listed below:

At this meeting the committee accepted input and viewpoints from all citizens without comment or judgment. Discussion items included:

• Enrollment Projections

• Explanation of the Use of Eminent Domain Procedures by the Town

• State Reimbursement Authorization

• A change in scope from the original project to two projects designed to add on to existing schools would require reauthorization.
• A change in location of the project does not require reauthorization.
• The grade range of the project may be modified provided the general character of the project as approved by the General Assembly does not change significantly.
• Deadlines for the appropriation of the funding may be extended if the request for extension is requested prior to the lapse date. Such deadlines may not be waived.

• Discussion of Grade 5/6 Solution

• Importance of Communication to the Community

This meeting was designed to review all possible sites and to examine all reasonable sites. Also, reasonable school capacity was to be discussed. Discussion items included:

• Review of Leasehold Interests

• Presentation by Dr. Mendelson of "An Assessment of the K-8 Facilities Currently in Use"

• Review and Related Discussion of Town-owned Sites

• Tours of selected sites were arranged for the committee members on Saturday, January 9 and 16 at 12:00 PM.

This meeting was designed to eliminate possible sites based upon technical/legal reports and to identify solutions considered for further evaluation at one or more of the sites. Discussion items included

• Possible expansion of the elementary schools to house up to 1000 students. Mr. Malik of Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. made a presentation illustrating some of the school options under consideration. Farmingville Elementary School was used as a model and the following factors were considered in the formulation of this proposal:

• educationally sound solutions
• disruption due to construction
• impact upon land use and coverage
• maximization of State reimbursement
• promotion of community use of school buildings
• future expansion and site circulation and parking.

• Elimination of Meetings #4 (January 26, 1999) and rescheduling Meeting #5 on February 9, 1999.

• Formation of a Sub-committee to draft a report on the pro’s and con’s of each of the sites. Volunteers included: Jane Berendsen-Hill, Chris Fallon, John Fogarty, Nancy Fogarty, Nelson Gelfman, Pam Golde, Chris Moomaw and John Sturges.

It is the Committee’s expectation that a summary of this report will be distributed to all residents. We hope that this will be a first step to improve communication with the town on this extremely important matter. It should set an example of openness, inclusiveness and cooperation for the BOE, the BOS and all citizens to follow. It is also the Committee’s wish that this report be provided to local media and that they be asked to print it in its entirety.

There has been far too much confusion and misinformation regarding this matter which has resulted in distrust, frustration, cynicism and divisiveness that are damaging our community. All Ridgefield must be made aware of the facts and believe that their interests are being appropriately considered by their elected officials.

Finally, the Committee urges all citizens to participate in this process. This serious problem will only be solved by a community that is accurately informed, actively engaged and united.

Stephen	Castagneto	463 Silver Spring Road
Frank	Cobelli	52 High Pastures Court
Sunnie	Colen	168 Holmes Road
Emmet	Delaney	2 Hull Place
Gerald	DePass	150 Tackora Trail
Chris	Fallon	141 Indian Cave Road
John	Fogarty	24 Hamilton Road
Nancy	Fogarty	24 Hamilton Road
Carl	Forcheski	12 Revere Drive
Pamela	Golde	45 Great Hill Road
James	Gregory	45 St. John's Road
R. Joseph	Guidos	21 McKeon Place
Adele	Handlers	30 Woodchuck Lane
Robert A.	Haughney	72 South Olmstead Lane
Joseph	Heyman	7 Ketcham Road
Jane	Berendsen-Hill	15 East Ridge
Ronald	Hill	15 East Ridge
Gary	Holland	110 Old Sib Road
Lawrence	Hoyt	c/o A. J. Carnall, P.O. Box 969
Sally A.	Legan	388 Wilton Road West
A. Richard	Malkin	122 Rising Ridge Road
Christopher	Molyneaux	90 Grove Street, Suite 104
Christopher	Moomaw	424 Old Sib Road
Robert	Murphy	30 Rockwell Road
Leon	Najman	33 Tally Ho Road
James	Parkin	87 Cedar Lane
Peter	Reich	65 Rockwell Road
Holly	Schroeder	152 West Mountain Road
Donald	Sturges	241 South Salem Road
John	Sturges	221 South Salem Road
Joseph	Walsh	49 Southridge Court
William	Whittemore	47 Rockwell Road
Frederick	Witte	41 Virginia Court
Diane	Zingali	157 St. John's Road

Ernest	Eckersdorf	66 Marshall Road
Philip	Sine	2 Craigmoor Road North
Jennifer	Ferreira	33 Tanglewood Court
Gary	Smith	109 Mountain Road

Dr. Ralph	Wallace	Superintendent of Schools
Abraham	Morelli	Board of Selectmen

Barbara	Manners	Board of Selectmen
Linda	Bunyan	Board of Education
Katherine	Fischer	Board of Education
Dr. Nelson	Gelfman	Planning & Zoning
John	Scarbrough	Board of Finance

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