Wolcott Bond Quietly Denied
by Amy Kolb Noyes

WOLCOTT - Despite scant turnout at three public hearings, a quiet
majority came to the polls at the Wolcott Town Hall Tuesday, October 19,
to defeat a proposed school/library addition. Only 27% of Wolcott voters
cast ballots on the measure, which would have allowed the school
district to secure a 20-year bond for $2,881,227 toward the $3.65
million proposal. The vote tally was 110 for the project and 153 against.
School Director DJ Masi headed up the building addition committee. He
said the school board meets next on Wednesday, October 27, and will then
discuss how to proceed.
"We don't have a next step yet," said Masi. He said the school board did
not have a backup plan to go to in case the bond issue failed.
In meetings prior to the vote, the school board expressed a need to
complete the project now, while interest rates were low and the state
was still committing to construction aid. If passed, the state would
have contributed $668,773 toward the project.
The proposed addition would have included a new library and office space
at the front of the elementary school. A new entry-way would have
allowed patrons to enter the library without going through the school.
The existing library would have been utilized as a multipurpose room for
classes such as art and music. Six classrooms would also have been
added, including a computer room and a preschool classroom.
The addition would have allowed kindergarten and preschool classes to
move back up to the elementary school building. Those classes are now
being held at the School Street Center, and kindergartners are bussed
between the two buildings.
The town and school district had made plans to turn the School Street
Center (the old elementary school building on School Street) over to the
town for possible future use as town office space. The school board must
now decide if they can continue to hold classes in that building next year