Ridgefield News
November 25, 1998

Selectmen Debate Course Of Action On Schools

Selectmen Urge Board To Move Forward On New School

Jones, Savino Reject Call For Yet Another Study Group

GOP Selectmen In Sharp Disagreement

In a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Democrat Mike Jones (left) urged the town to "get on with" the job of developing a new middle school plan. Tonight's meeting, called the discuss the impact of Saturday's referendum defeat, was attended by more than 30 townspeople.

Republican First Selectman Abe Morelli said he would look to a proposed "Oversight Committee" for guidance on how the town should now proceed. Jones disagreed; "This Board should not cower behind an amorphous, unfocused, Oversight Committee. We have an excellent School Site Selection Committee and a Construction Committee, both composed of talented and dedicated Ridgefielders representing a wide spectrum of opinions." Jones urged the town to recall these already-existing bodies to reassess the town's direction based on the new circumstances it faces.

GOP Selectman Joe Savino (right) sharply disagreed with Morelli on several issues, including the First Selectman's wish to rely on a new "oversight" group. "Too broad, too unfocused, too vague," was how Savino characterized the proposed study group. Tonight's open split between Ridgefield's senior Republican, Abe Morelli, and the younger, aggressive Savino led observers to speculate that local Republicans may challenge any Morelli bid for a second term as First Selectman in 1999.

Democratic Selectman Barbara Manners (left) agreed that a new middle school plan was needed, and that any new plan should be based on land the town already owns. Manners also criticized those who had "distorted the truth" in the debate leading to Saturday's referendum. "Shame on you," said Manners to those who she said had attempted to mislead voters.

The 30-plus Ridgefielders who attended tonight's meeting represented a wide spectrum of opinions on the school issue. Marianne Loomis (standing, right) was typical of many who urged the town to come together and quickly get a plan on track to resolve the school overcrowding. While there was some acrimony evident in the give-and-take betweeen various points of view, many felt that there was some genuine communication taking place between those who had opposed the Ippoliti site plan and those who had favored it.

After nearly two hours of public discussion, Selectman Jones summed up the Town's position:

• the "ed. spec." calling for one huge middle school should be declared dead, and sent back to the school board. Alternate plans, including enlarging existing elementary schools, building two new middle schools, and reusing former school buildings like the old high school and Barlow Mountain, should now be on the table.

  Selectmen Mike Jones (left), Barbara Manners, and First Selectman Abe Morelli (right)

• an outside study should be quickly completed to validate the Board of Education's projections of future school enrollments. Tonight's meeting showed that there is still deep-seated skepticism about the Board's published projections, and visiting Democratic school board member Bob Opotzner agreed with Jones that a new study was needed, to get everyone comfortable with enrollment projections upon which school building plans would be based.
• the past research, findings, and expertise of the School Site Selection and Building Committees should be tapped to quickly develop the next set of plans. Two major new developments - the town's demonstrated unwillingness to build a large school on the Ippoliti site, and the availablity of the Ippoliti site for other town uses, including a swap of conservation-deeded land from other potential school sites - should be the basis for a reevaluation of available sites and options.
• while an Oversight Committee, or tonight's suggestion of a special panel comprised of a handful of "wise men," might be helpful to build consensus, the duly elected Selectmen and school board members must face up to their responsibilities to act decisively, and quickly develop new plans to solve Ridgefield's overcrowding crisis.

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