In March of this year the voters of this town approved a bond, in part, to reopen Salem School. I reviewed the tape of the board meeting of Oct. 16 and it appears that the scope of work is being reduced. While it is one thing to value engineer and reduce costs, it is quite another to eliminate work prematurely just to reduce costs even before the project has gone out for bid. I subsequently e-mailed the board on this topic and was not impressed by its response.

Originally, three classrooms were to be added to the rear of the building. Turner/Spector (construction manager/architect) is now proposing, instead of renovating a bathroom, to convert it to a classroom and then add two classrooms at another location. In addition, the two lower classrooms that the voters approved to be renovated won't be turned into classrooms.

I am sorry, that is not what the voters approved. The voters approved turning that space into educational space. If the board decides that those classrooms are not yet needed, then turn that space into extra space like all the other elementary schools will have. Most of the schools will have extra space that the educators will be able to tailor the ever-changing demands of our schools.

And no, for the cynics among you, I have very little interest in returning to the board in the short term, but I do hope that others will step forward this May to make sure that the educational interest of our kids and no egos will be in the forefront.

Dean Nardone

Former trustee BOE