Tolland School Officials Formulating Facilities Study

School officials hope to have a facilities study report in place by mid-December. 

And the public input portion of that endeavor intensifies this week. 

The Tolland Board of Education is inviting townspeople to participate in a series of community workshops regarding the development of a formal facilities plan for local schools.  

The first workshop is scheduled for Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria at Tolland Middle School.

The board has selected the Waltham, MA-based architectural firm of Drummey Rosane Anderson Inc. to develop a local School Facility Utilization and Assessment Study.
 
Superintendent of Schools William Guzman said DRA has already conducted building evaluations prior to the meetings with residents at the community workshops. The firm will be meeting with school staff members to conduct programming and educational planning meetings throughout the fall, he said. 

The first workshop will focus on "gathering community input," Guzman said. DRA will conduct subsequent workshops to identify possible alternatives for Tolland schools and will then shape specific recommendations for Board of Education consideration, he said.  

The workshop schedule is: 

• Thursday, Oct. 3  – "LISTENING: Gathering community input."

• Thursday, Nov. 7  – "ALTERNATIVES: Understanding the options."

• Thursday, Dec. 12  – "SHAPING RECOMMENDATIONS for Board consideration."

DRA’s study will "consider the broadest range of options and possibilities to address the needs of Tolland’s school system," Guzman said.  

On Thursday, school officials will be asking for residents to share their thoughts.

Here is the workshop agenda: 

• 7 to 7:10 - Informational Displays.

• 7:10 to 7:15 - Welcome.

• 7:15 to 7:20 - Facility Plan Overview.

• 7:20 to 7:35 - Workshop Overview

• 7:35 to 8:10 - Breakout Sessions

• 8:10 to 8:25 - Re-Group / Re-Cap.

• 8:25 to 8:30 - Concluding Comments.