The association represents 11 administrators in the district, including principals, assistant principals and three positions in the central office. The new contract runs from the current fiscal year through the 2013-14 fiscal year.

The contract includes a 1.5 percent wage increase for the current year, no increase for the second year, and a 1.75 percent increase in the third year. After step increases are factored in, the overall salary increase goes up to 2.62 percent in the first year and 0.15 percent in the second year but remains the same 1.75 percent in the final year of the deal.

Joseph Nuzzo, Community School principal and president of the association, explained seven of the 11 administrators in the union are already at the maximum step level. Under the last agreement, Nuzzo said, the union agreed to a freeze on step increases. He said the union felt it was only fair the four administrators who didn’t receive step increases under the last contract will receive them under the new deal.

The only major change in the contract is the option of a new healthcare plan.

Under the deal, the board will provide a High Deductible Health Care/Health Savings Account (HDHP/HSA) Plan option to administrators beginning July 1. Currently, administrators have a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) health plan.

Current administrators will have the option of either plan come July without having the pay more. Under the contract, any employee in the union hired after July 1 will have the option of either plan, but will have to pay the difference if they choose the more expensive PPO plan.

The HDHP/HAS plan includes a deductible of $2,000 for individuals and a $4,000 deductible for families. Under the plan, the board will pay 50 percent of the applicable deductible. The board will pay 80.5 percent of the health insurance benefit. Beginning July 1, 2014 the board’s share will drop to 80 percent.

The health care issue proved to be a sticking point during the negotiations.

Nuzzo said the union wanted to ensure it could keep the current PPO plan.

“It was something that we really felt strongly about. … It was a big negotiating factor,” he said.

Priscilla Cretella, chair of the school board, said the board favored the HDHP/HAS plan because it will be cheaper for the board. If all 11 administrators choose the new plan the board would save $16,000, she said.

Cretella said it won’t be known until July, when administrators choose their plan, what savings the board will realize.

In all, Cretella said she felt good about the new deal.

“There was give and take. I do feel good about (the contract). … They’re administrators, we rely on them heavily. We wanted to make it agreeable to both parties,” Cretella said.

Copies of the contract are available for public viewing in the town clerks’ offices in Beacon Falls and Prospect.

Registration is open to those children who will turn 5 by Jan. 1, 2013 and are residents of Beacon Falls for Laurel Ledge School and Prospect for Algonquin School. During the week of Jan. 23 through Jan. 27, parents can register their child and pick up a packet of forms that must be filled out and returned by Feb. 17. Proof of residency is required to register for kindergarten.

The following information must be provided to register a child: A mortgage statement or copy of deed showing ownership of property where child resides or copy of signed lease or rental agreement for the property the child lives or copy of signed lease or notarized statement from the owner of the property where child is residing listing all family members who are residing on the property; a copy of a current utility bill from CL&P or Yankee Gas or, if the landlord is supplying utilities, a notarized copy of the lease or rental agreement indicating the landlord is supplying utilities; a copy of another bill, cell phone, car insurance, car registration, credit card statement, etc. confirming residency; a copy of valid Connecticut driver’s license for either parent indicting address where the child resides.

For more information or questions, call Laurel Ledge at (203) 729-5355 ext. 202 or Algonquin at (203) 758-4408 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

A computer drawing shows a design for the new elementary school in Prospect. -CONTRIBUTED

BEACON FALLS — Weeks after voters in Prospect and Beacon Falls approved a school building project for Region 16 the “real work” is set to begin.

The Board of Education gave the go-ahead for Fletcher Thompson, an architectural firm, and Turner Construction, a construction management firm, to proceed with phase II of the project at its meeting Jan. 11.

“Now the real work begins,” Joseph Costa, a principal with Fletcher Thompson, told the board.

Fletcher Thompson and Turner Construction worked on the estimated $46.7 million, three-part project throughout its initial phase leading up to the December referendum. The firms will continue to work hand-in-hand with the school building committee, which meets every two weeks, on the project.

The board approved a $2.3 million contract with Fletcher Thompson last week, along with a $45,000 allowance for the company to cover miscellaneous costs such as travel and mailings. As of the meeting, the contract with Turner Construction had not been finalized, but the company was given permission to start its work.

“We don’t anticipate any problems, and we feel the contract will be finalized shortly,” attorney Warren “Pete” Hess said.

The costs of the contracts will come out of the money approved for the project.

The project entails building a new elementary school in Prospect at 75 New Haven Road, a 49-acre parcel known as the Talmadge Hill Road property, to replace Community and Algonquin schools, major renovations to Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls, and converting Algonquin School in Prospect into the new district office. The project was approved at a Dec. 20 referendum, 1,239 to 1,084.

Costa explained that phase II of the project includes intensive design work, securing the necessary permits from the state and towns for the work ahead, along with more analysis of the site for the new school, including a traffic study.

“Now is the time for us to really roll up our sleeves,” Costa said.

The firm will also work on filing the necessary paperwork, by June 30, with the state for reimbursement. School officials anticipate to be reimbursed 68 percent of eligible costs of the project by the state.

Along with working to get the highest reimbursement rate on the three parts of the project, Costa said the firm will work on securing reimbursement from the state on the money spent to buy the Talmadge Hill Property. In October 2008, voters approved buying the land for $1.59 million.

Phase II will lead up to actual construction of the new school and renovations at Laurel Ledge, which are expected to begin in the spring of 2013. Work on the district office project is slated start in July of 2014.

As the project moves forward, members of the school board emphasized the importance of keeping the public informed through presentations at various stages of the project. Costa told the board there will be periodic public presentations.

Board chair Priscilla Cretella said the board wants an open discussion so everyone understands what is happening as the project unfolds.

“The whole thing here is communication,” she said.

James Agostine, left, outgoing Region 16 superintendent of schools, talks with interim superintendent Tim James during a break in Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting. ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — There has been a changing of the guard atop Region 16’s administrative hierarchy.

James Agostine oversaw his last Board of Education meeting as the district’s superintendent of schools Wednesday night.

“(Agostine) has executed everything we have asked him to do. The one thing I can say is he is leaving Region 16 better than he found it,” school board Chair Priscilla Cretella said.

Agostine will begin his new position as superintendent in the Monroe school district next week.

“It’s been a great experience in Region 16. I’m really happy with the work we’ve done and look forward to new challenges,” said Agostine following the board meeting.

While the meeting was Agostine last, it was the first for interim Superintendent of Schools Tim James. James, who sat aside Agostine during the meeting, was hired as interim superintendent in late December. Prior to coming to the district, James was superintendent for the Orange Elementary School District and had planned to retire at the end of last year from Orange before accepting the interim position.

With James in place, the board’s attention will now turn to finding a permanent replacement. That search got off to frugal start as James volunteered his services, free of charge, to perform the search for the board.

James told the board he was happy to do the search for the board as a professional courtesy. If the board hired a firm or a state education organization to do the search officials estimated it could cost the district up to $18, 000. The board gladly accepted James’ offer.

“We all are very enthusiastic about that,” Cretella said in a subsequent interview.

Cretella said James’ offer was a wonderful perk not only for the savings but because of his experience in the education field and ability to whittle down prospective candidates.

James gave the board a draft timeline for the search, which was discussed in executive session. Cretella said she will meet with James in the coming to week to adjust some dates on the timeline.

The first step to finding a new superintendent is to form a search committee. The committee, which will be comprised of school and town officials along with members of the general public, will be formed in the coming weeks Cretella said.

Exactly when a new superintendent will be hired is still to be determined.

With a number of major issues currently facing the district, not the least of which is the three-part, $46.7 million building project, James told the board he is willing to stay on as interim as long as the board feels is necessary.

“I’m committed to do what you want me to do for you,” James told the board.

Cretella said the board is willing to consider keeping James past the end of this school year.

“We are going to start the search committee,” she said. “But our building project right now and the repairs we need to do are our top priority.”

The classes are open to anyone 16 years old or older, who live in Beacon Falls and Prospect or any surrounding community and isn’t currently enrolled in a high school program.

The 11 classes offered, which include courses in American Sign Language, gardening, conversational Spanish, and line dancing, are for adults who wish to continue their education or want to take a class for enjoyment. Adults interested in taking high school equivalency courses or basic education courses can do so through Waterbury Adult Education.

All courses are $42, which includes a $4 registration fee, and most consist of 10 classes. Courses for senior citizens, age 55 and older, are $24 including the registration fee. Courses begin the week of Jan. 30 and run through late March. Classes are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

The deadline to register for a course is Jan. 23. Courses must be paid for in full prior to the start of the class. Anyone unable to attend classes after registering for a course will only be refunded the tuition cost before the first class. After the first class there will be no refunds.

For more information, call Adult Education Director Joseph Nuzzo at (203) 758-6674.

James Agostine - FILE PHOTO

A new superintendent will guide Region 16 into the new year.

Current Superintendent of Schools James Agostine will leave the district Jan. 15 after four years at its helm. The school board will soon start its search for a new superintendent of schools, but has already hired Tim James to serve as interim superintendent starting Jan. 10. James is currently serving as superintendent of schools for the Orange Elementary School District. James has been a superintendent for 23 of his 41 years in education.

“He comes highly recommended,” said Pricella Cretella, chair of the Board of Education

She said he has knowledge and expertise and seems very organized.

“We’re anticipating a good relationship with him,” Cretella said.

She said the board hopes to find a well-qualified permanent replacement for Agostine.

“We are going to be looking very, very diligently for someone who will fill our needs,” Cretella said.

School project set to move forward

A computer drawing shows a design for the new elementary school in Prospect. -CONTRIBUTED

Prospect voters recently carried a $46.7 million school project to the next step when they approved it in a referendum Dec. 20, over the objections of a majority of Beacon Falls voters.

The plan includes building a new elementary school in Prospect to replace Community and Algonquin schools, major renovations to Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls, and converting Algonquin School into the new district office.

Architectural firm Fletcher-Thompson will begin designing the new building and renovations to submit to the state for reimbursement by the end of June. The project should go out to bid next spring, with construction starting in the spring of 2013.

Under the plan, an 85,630-square-foot, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade school will be built on a 49-acre site at 75 New Haven Road in Prospect, known as the Tallmadge Hill Road property. The new school will replace Community and Algonquin schools.

Plans for Laurel Ledge include building new corridors to connect all of the buildings at the campus-style school and renovations to the bathrooms. One science and one music classroom along with two new bathrooms will be added to the school as well.

As for the new district office, the two-story wing of Algonquin School will be demolished and the remaining portion will be renovated for office space with an all-purpose room for school and community events. The annex at the school would be saved for future use. The area where the two-story wing stands now will be used for parking.

Generating a buzz

Following several severe storms that took out power in much of the district over the past year, the Board of Education will be looking into getting generators to power the school buildings.

Woodland Regional High School has a generator, but some issues arose when the building was used as a shelter following the October nor’easter.

Cretella said she wasn’t sure how much the generators would cost or whether the district will have the money to pay for it.

“It’s something that we want to be more prepared for a storm. We don’t know if we could possibly meet the demand,” Cretella said.

School board members have also contended that Beacon Falls should pay for a generator at the high school, since it would be the town and not the school district that would use the facility as an emergency shelter.

Fixing the fields at the high school

The district plans to fix the athletic fields at the high school next year. The backstops at the high school broke under the weight of the October snow this year. The fields will be fixed over the winter or in early spring so softball and tennis teams will be able to play next season, according to Cretella.

“Those are two big ticket items that have to be dealt with right away,” Cretella said.

Enrollment declining

Cretella said the district is hoping to save money in next year’s budget through attrition. With declining student enrollment, some positions may not be filled as staff retires.

School officials are looking to put an end to what has been described as constant ‘persistent’ vandalism at Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls. FILE PHOTO

Constant vandalism at Laurel Ledge Elementary School has the Board of Education seeking a heightened police presence at the Beacon Falls school and neighborhood awareness of the issue.

“It’s been persistent for quite a while,” said Superintendent of Schools James Agostine about the vandalism at the school.

One of most frequent targets of vandals has been the playscape in the back field, which has been broken on occasion and used as a canvas for graffiti. Recently, vandals have also climbed onto the school and ripped shingles off of the roof according to school officials.

Agostine said the district has been repairing and cleaning what it can following the incidents of vandalism, but didn’t have specific details on monetary costs of the vandalism.

Vandalism at Laurel Ledge has been the subject of conversations at recent school board meetings.

Business Manager Hugh Potter told the board at its Dec. 21 meeting that officials have taken and are planning to take steps to try to curb the vandalism. He said items that can be used to climb onto the roof have been removed. Officials are looking into putting in a flood light to illuminate the back field at night, and plan to put up more no trespassing signs Potter added

Agostine added, in a subsequent interview, officials have begun locking the easy access gate to the back field at night. However, the fence doesn’t completely encompass the field, he said, leaving areas where vandals can enter.

Along with the steps taken by the district, Potter told the board he sat down with state police to discuss the matter and police will increase their patrols of the area surrounding the school.

Board member Robert Hiscox said he wanted it known that police have the support of the board to arrest anyone caught on the property after hours and cited for trespassing.

“We’re not out to punish kids for being kids,” Hiscox said. However, he added, the vandals must know what they’re doing is wrong.

If the damage to the playscape continues, Hiscox said the board could end up closing it down.

“Then nobody wins,” he said.

Hiscox added that the board must be wary of the potential liability or a lawsuit the board could face if someone is hurt on school property.

“We need to protect taxpayers in the region from something like that,” he said.

Along with talking to police, board member Sheryl Feducia felt the board should reach out to neighbors of the school and make them aware of what is going on.

Feducia felt if the neighbors knew about the problem, they might be more observant and notice if something out of place is occurring at the school.

“Maybe they’ll take the initiative to pick up the phone and call police,” Feducia said.

With winter still to go, the Board of Education approved a snow day contingency plan at its Dec. 7 meeting just in case winter’s wrath forces more school closures.

Region 16 schools were closed for five days following the Oct. 29 storm, which put the last day of school at June 19. As part of the contingency plan, the board approved changing the professional development day for teachers scheduled for March 23 into a regularly school day. The professional development day will be made up at the end of the school year, which will not be a school day for students, according to the plan.

Since the professional development day was changed, the last day of school currently stands at June 18.

Under the plan, if there’s one more emergency closure before Feb. 13, schools will open on Feb. 17, which is currently a scheduled day off.

With the last day of school at June 18, the district has nine emergency days left to use before the last day schools could be open, June 29, this school year.

According to the plan, if by April 6 school closures push the last day of school past June 29 the board will begin to take days away from April vacation to make up the days.

Vacation days will be taken away starting on Friday, April 20 and working backwards through the week, according to the plan.

From left, Selectman Chris Bielik, and Board of Education members Wendy Oliveira and Sheryl Feducia listen to the Beacon Falls results for the Region 16 school referendum Tuesday night at Laurel Ledge School. The referendum failed in Beacon Falls, but passed overall due to support in Prospect.

Overwhelming support by Prospect voters carried Tuesday’s referendum on the proposed school building project in Region 16 to success.

The referendum passed by a count of 1,239 to 1,084.

“Terrific. It’s a new era in Region 16,” Superintendent of Schools James Agostine said after the final results were announced at the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department. “We’re going to fix the problems and move forward.”

The majority of Prospect voters approved the project 861 to 463, whereas the project was voted down by Beacon Falls voters 378 to 608. The “yes” votes in Prospect where enough to give the project the green light by a margin of 155 votes.

“The kids of Region 16 won,” Board of Education Chair Priscilla Cretella said. “After 28 years, I couldn’t ask for a nicer thing. … I’m just ecstatic.”

Beacon Falls school board members were disappointed the referendum didn’t pass in their town, but happy with the overall outcome.

“I’m thrilled. It’s long overdue. The work needs to be done,” Beacon Falls board member Wendy Oliveira said.

The $46.7 million plan calls for building a new elementary school in Prospect to replace Community and Algonquin schools, major renovations to Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls, and converting Algonquin School into the new district office.

“I think a town is really judged by its school system, and I think the improvements are necessary,” said Beacon Falls resident Carol Erlingheuser after voting Tuesday.

Erlingheuser, who has grandchildren in the high school and elementary school, said the middle and high schools are great.

“I think the elementary schools need to be brought up to the same standards,” she said.

After the anticipated state reimbursement of about 68 percent on eligible costs is factored in, the cost for Prospect and Beacon Falls is estimated to be $19.7 million, with Prospect covering about 60 percent and Beacon Falls about 40 percent. Prospect’s share is estimated at $11.8 million, which leaves Beacon Falls to pay for the remaining $7.9 million.

The estimated tax impact of the project for both towns is an additional $102 in taxes for every $100,000 in assessed value for each year over the 20-year bond. The figure is based on the current grand lists of both towns, and could fluctuate with changes in the grand lists over time.

For some who voted against the project, the price tag was just too high.

“I’m cheap and it’s too much at one time,” said Beacon Falls resident Randall Frink, who did agree improvements to the schools were necessary.

Under the plan, an 85,630-square-foot, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade school will be built on a 49-acre site at 75 New Haven Road in Prospect, known as the Tallmadge Hill Road property. The new school will replace Community and Algonquin schools.

Nadia Murtishi of Prospect said her family moved to Prospect because they thought it was a good school system, but were disappointed when they saw the state of Algonquin and Community schools.

“I’m hoping that my kids can have a chance to be in a good school,” Murtishi said.

Plans for Laurel Ledge include building new corridors to connect all of the buildings at the campus-style school and renovations to the bathrooms. One science and one music classroom along with two new bathrooms will be added to the school as well.

As for the new district office, the two-story wing of Algonquin School will be demolished and the remaining portion will be renovated for office space with an all-purpose room for school and community events. The annex at the school would be saved for future use. The area where the two-story wing stands now will be used for parking.

“This sets us up for the next 75 years,” Agostine said.

Now that the voters have given their blessing to the project the next step will be an intensive design phase and working on the necessary paperwork to submit to the state by the end of June to help secure the estimated reimbursement rate on the project.

“All that will go forward full speed ahead right after Christmas,” Cretella said.

The board will use the same architect, Fletcher-Thompson and construction management firm, Turner Construction, that have guided it through the project so far.

“We thought it was very important that we have them along every step of the way,” Cretella said.

Agostine estimated that by next spring the board will be ready to go out to bid on the project and construction would begin in the spring of 2013.

As the project progresses Cretella said the board will hold more public meetings to keep the public informed on the project.

“We have an idea of what we would like, but we definitely want the public’s opinion,” Cretella said.

Laraine Weschler contributed to this article.

This drawing by Fletcher Thompson Architects of Shelton shows how the courtyard and corridors could look at Laurel Ledge School following the planned renovations. CONTRIBUTED

Voters in Beacon Falls and Prospect will decide the fate of the proposed $46.7 million school building project in Region 16 today.

The polling places are open until 8 p.m. The voting place in Beacon Falls is Laurel Ledge School, 30 Highland Ave. In Prospect, voters can cast their ballot at the Volunteer Fire Department, 26 New Haven Road.

The referendum is on whether to authorize the school district to bond the $46.7 million for the project. Authorizing the issuance of bonds does not mean the district will spend the entire $46.7 million.

The project consists of building a new elementary school in Prospect to replace Community and Algonquin schools, major renovations to Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls, and converting Algonquin School into the new district office.

Under the proposal, a 85,630-square-foot, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade school will be built on a 49-acre site at 75 New Haven Road in Prospect, known as the Tallmadge Hill Road property.

This conceptual design by Fletcher Thompson Architects of Shelton shows what the proposed new elementary school in Prospect could look like. CONTRIBUTED

Plans for Laurel Ledge include building new corridors to connect all of the buildings at the campus-style school and renovating the bathrooms. One science and one music classroom along with two new bathrooms will also be added to the school as well.

The proposal also calls for renovations to Algonquin School to turn the school into the district’s new central office.

The two-story wing of Algonquin would be demolished and replaced with parking. The remaining portion will be renovated for office space with an all-purpose room for school and community events. The annex at the school would be saved for future use.

In total, the project is anticipated to cost $46.7 million. The state is expected to reimburse the district about 68 percent on the eligible costs of the project.

The largest cost of the project is the new school, which is estimated at $36.6 million. The renovations at Laurel Ledge are expected to cost $7.75 million. It’s estimated that turning Algonquin School into the district office will cost $2.4 million.

After the anticipated state reimbursement is factored in, Prospect and Beacon Falls will be left to pay roughly $19.7 million. The cost will be divided between the towns using the same ratio as the school budget with Prospect covering about 60 percent and Beacon Falls about 40 percent. Prospect’s share is estimated at $11.8 million, leaving Beacon Falls to pay for the remaining $7.9 million.

According to recent figures supplied to school officials by the board’s bond counsel, the project will cost taxpayers in both towns an additional $102 in taxes for every $100,000 in assessed value for each year over the 20-year bond. The figure is based on the current grand lists of both towns, and could fluctuate with changes in the grand lists over time.