East Windsor Public Schools
Board of Education Policies
Construction SERIES 7000
Goals and Objectives
A quality educational program can best function in an environment that is
conducive to learning, supports and encourages excellence in teaching, and
provides a safe and comfortable place for students and staff.
Accordingly, the Board of Education establishes the following goals for facilities development:
1. developing a long-range planning and evaluation program;
2. providing the facilities needed to serve all students in the district;
3. providing facilities and equipment that will best support and accommodate
the needs of a quality educational program;
4. designing and constructing all facilities with particular attention to
safety, security, and appropriate lighting, heating, ventilation, acoustics,
spatial factors and aesthetic appearance;
5. planning for flexible and adaptable school spaces.
6. considering the adaptability of school facilities to community use.
7. reducing racial, ethnic and economic isolation by providing educational
opportunities that may include involvement in such facilities as inter-district
magnet schools, intra-district and inter-district public school choice programs,
inter-district school building projects and distance learning through the
use of technology.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-4a Educational interests of state defined.
PA 97-290- An Act Enhancing Education Choices and Opportunities
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
The Board will gather and analyze appropriate data to evaluate the district’s
facilities needs on a long-range basis. Such data will include, but not be
limited to, enrollment projections, anticipated changes in the instructional
program, analysis of community building plans, analysis of sites and evaluation
of present facilities.
The Board of Education is ultimately responsible for the regular operation
and orderly development of the school district’s physical plant. In
carrying out this responsibility, the Board is concerned with both short-term
and long-range planning.
The Board delegates to the Superintendent of Schools the responsibility for formulating and implementing, subject to approval by the Board, a long-range facilities development plan that will serve as a guide for capital improvements and enable the district to provide the appropriate facilities to meet the educational needs of the students.
Pursuant to this plan, the Superintendent shall:
1. continually monitor and evaluate changes in the curriculum, enrollment trends and patterns within the school district, the availability of construction funds, and other relevant factors and periodically recommend appropriate modifications to the plan;
2. annually evaluate the status of all school buildings and grounds in order to ensure that an atmosphere conducive to quality education is maintained; and
3. conduct an assessment of equipment, facilities, and maintenance practices to ensure that district schools are operated in a manner that meets the present and future needs of the educational mission of the district.
The district will also prepare a five-year capital improvement plan and update such plan annually.
The Superintendent may create an advisory committee, representing all groups utilizing district facilities and including any individuals he/she deems appropriate, to propose and consider ideas and suggestions in the construction, remodeling, and/or repair of district facilities.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
Enrollment projections will be prepared at the direction of the Superintendent
and will be reviewed and updated annually.
Projections will consider the following:
1. Figures from the latest school census;
2. School registration figures;
3. Proposed or forthcoming changes in community planning and zoning;
4. Review of current and planned community land development and housing projects.
Whenever construction of new school facilities is being contemplated, the Board may authorize outside studies of population trends and school enrollment.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7113.1
Retirement of Buildings
The Board of Education has the authority to close a school building when it
has been determined to be no longer useful to the district and/or is unsuitable
to the current or projected needs of the district or when an unforeseen natural
event or mechanical failure causes a facility to become unsafe, unhealthy,
inaccessible, or inoperable. Prior to the closure of a school facility for
foreseen circumstances, the Board shall prepare a written analysis which considers
the following issues:
• projected or actual enrollment declines and the likelihood
that they will remain permanent;
• the effect that the disposition or retirement will have on other facilities
and on the district’s educational program offering;
• student and staff displacement, including transportation costs to
new facilities and staff reassignment;
• potential for renovation;
• financial considerations in terms of such factors as staff costs,
operating and maintenance cost, the cost of closure and transferring operations
elsewhere;
• safety, health, and fire regulations; and
• whether the facility may effectively be used for other district purposes.
Following the development of a written analysis, the Board will conduct one
or more hearings to receive testimony on issues related to the closure of
a school. Each hearing notice will be appropriately published in a newspaper
of general circulation which serves the areas where the school is located.
Comments received from interested parties will be used for advisory purposes only. The final determination of whether a facility will be closed or remain open will be made by the Board.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7114.2
Temporary School Facilities
Rented facilities, movable units and other emergency school housing may be
inadequate for long-term public school purposes. Therefore, it is the Board’s
aim to have sufficient permanent facilities to meet the needs of the school
enrollment and the school program.
If circumstances require immediate space not available in public school buildings, facilities will be rented or movable structures used only as a temporary measure. Any such facility must conform to all appropriate state and local building and land use codes, health and fire laws and environmental standards.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7115
Developing Educational Specifications
It shall be the policy of the Board of Education to develop Educational Specifications
which address all aspects of a planned facility that effect the educational
program. Educational Specifications are the means by which the Board of Education
shall describe the educational activities, spaces and adjacencies of spaces
which need to be incorporated in a new or renovated facility. They are written
statements that serve as a vehicle of communication between the school system
and the architect.
Development of Educational Specifications
The Superintendent of Schools will present the Educational Specifications to the Board of Education for adoption. The Board of Education upon approval of Educational Specifications shall present them to the town’s legally designated body or person who shall use them as a strict guideline for developing plans and specifications for the construction project.
Content of Educational Specifications
As a minimum, Educational Specifications shall include the following:
• Project rationale,
• Master Plan for the district,
• Capacity and enrollment data,
• Programs to be housed,
• Support facilities
• Community use,
• Systems to incorporated (HVAC, technology, clocks, etc.),
• Environment controls,
• Handicap access,
• Site development
• Priority category and rationale (for State Department of Education
grant application),
• Other data - room sizes, adjacencies, acoustics, lighting levels,
configuration of rooms, colors, windows, floor finish, furniture, and classroom
equipment.
• Automatic sprinkler systems (projects put out to bid after July 1,
2004),
• Maximization of natural light.
(cf. 7410 – Project Bids and Quotation)
(cf. 7230.1 – Energy-Conserving Construction)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-283 Applications for grants for schools building projects. (As amended by PA 01-173)
29-315 Fire extinguishing system required for certain building for human occupancy, other occupancies. (As amended by PA 01-173)
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7123
Educational Consultant, Architectural Consultant
The Board of Education is charged with developing concepts and educational
specifications for construction of facilities. To provide the best possible
educational environment within financial and physical constraints, it may
be necessary to retain either an educational consultant or an architect who
is familiar with the structures and equipment needed to house educational
programs.
Choosing an Educational or Architectural Consultant
The Board may appoint a committee or the Superintendent of Schools to interview qualified applicants for the project and recommend to the full Board an educational consultant for consideration.
In selecting an educational consultant, the following criteria will be considered:
1. Training and experience including that of partners and associates.
2. Planning ability and promptness.
3. Specification writing, accuracy, and sufficiency of detail.
4. Familiarity with the type of educational programming and organizations used in the local schools.
5. Inspection of job effectiveness.
6. Experience with state and local level government agencies in the State of Connecticut.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7144
Public Presentation/Public Approval
The Board of Education recognizes that presentation for public approval of
construction projects by Board members and school employees shall be carried
out in strict compliance with the law.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
An architect will be commissioned for every major building or renovation project.
In selecting an architect, the following criteria will be considered:
1. Training and experience including that of partners and associates.
2. Planning ability and promptness.
3. Specification writing, accuracy and sufficiency of detail.
4. Design, appearance and utility.
5. Inspection of job effectiveness.
6. Relation with contractors.
7. Experience with government agencies.
The Building Committee and Superintendent or his/her designee will interview qualified applicants for the project and select an architect.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7221
Construction of Physical Facilities
Selection of Site
In recommending sites for school facilities, the following factors should be considered:
• Size
• Location
• Drainage and soil conditions
• Topography and elevation
• Accessibility
• Cost
This should be done in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10 282 School building projects.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7230
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New Construction
Design and Process
It is the responsibility of the Town’s Building Committee by use of
an architect to develop plans and specifications for school facilities based
on the Board of Education Educational Specifications. A designated central
office administrator shall attend all meetings of the Town’s Building
Committee when it involves school building project, and provide liaison services
between Town Committees, the Public Works Department, and the Superintendent
of Schools. Plans and specifications, after being approved by the Town Building
Committee shall be presented to the Board of Education for approval.
(cf. 7115 - Developing Design Specifications.)
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7230.1
Energy-Conserving Construction
The Board recognizes the importance and need for energy conservation in the
construction of new school facilities or renovation of existing facilities.
Further, all new school construction and renovation projects shall place a
high priority on means to maximize natural light.
Proposed construction and renovation projects that contain the most efficient energy-saving plans within an acceptable budget will have high priority. Energy-saving designs will be documented in the architectural evaluation and will comply with educational specifications and cost control checklists as determined by the Board.
Ongoing studies of energy problems and energy sources will be maintained for future planning.
(cf. 7115 – Developing Educational Specifications)
cf. 7410 – Project Bids and Quotations)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-283 Applications for grant for school building projects. (As amended by PA 01-173)
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
It is the policy of the Board of Education to inform the Town's executive
and financial branches of the need for a facility or facility renovation.
The Town will then consider incorporating the construction project into its
Capital Improvement Budget. The Board of Education shall provide the Town
executive and financial branch with a preferred schedule and a cost estimate.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
The Superintendent shall develop cost estimates for an anticipated construction
project as soon as is practical and shall present those estimates to the Board
of Education. Approved cost estimates will be forwarded to the town’s
executive and financial branches. As planning for the project progresses,
the Superintendent shall keep up-to-date cost estimates and inform the Board
of Education of significant changes. After approval by the Board of Education,
new estimates shall be conveyed to the town’s executive and financial
branches.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7410
Project Bids and Quotations
No document shall be issued for bidding until the final plans and specifications
shall have been submitted to and approved by the Board of Education.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7500
Occupying: Certificate of Occupancy
Upon completion of the project, the school district shall not occupy any portion
of the new or remodeled facility until a Certificate of Occupancy has been
issued for the entire project or for the area of the project to be occupied.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-282 Definitions
29-265 Certificates of occupancy
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7530
Community Orientation and Board of Education Acceptance
It is recognized that the schools belong to the people of the community. Upon
completion of a major construction program, there shall be an acceptance ceremony
to which all levels of government, all members of the community and school
staff are invited. The project shall be officially accepted from the Building
Committee by the Chairperson of the Board of Education. Community members
shall be given an orientation tour of the facilities.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
7540
Assembling and Preserving Documents
Plans, specifications, warranties, and other documents which will be important
in the operation of the facility shall become the property of the Board of
Education upon completion of the project and shall be catalogued and permanently
stored in a secure, fireproof location.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut
The Board of Education is responsible for naming any school facility. The
Board, in its discretion, may establish procedures for the naming of any building
or other district facility. Suitable building plaques or other memorials may
be authorized by the Board.
Policy adopted: June 19, 2001 EAST WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Windsor, Connecticut