School Construction Zone: Stamford, Norwalk Updates

As we’ve previously reported, districts across Connecticut are investing millions of dollars to upgrade their school facilities. 

Stamford and Norwalk are two of the largest districts in the region and they have some of the biggest construction programs. Here’s the latest on a few of their projects.

Demolition Plans Advance in Stamford—with a Warning

In January, Stamford Board of Finance voted to approve the school district’s demolition plans for the existing Roxbury and Westhill buildings. However, the board also cautioned school officials that it expected to review all the contracts related to the construction program.

“The board has to be apprised of any contract and you have to come before us for any amount over $100K so if you do want the funding you have to come back and get our approval on the contract,” Chair Mary Lou Rinaldi told the school district officials in January.

Anthony Romano, the city’s budget manager, reiterated that the district would be back because as per the Board of Finance’s policies, it has to approve any contract over $100,000—which the school construction contracts definitely would be.

However, in October 2024, according to the Stamford Advocate, Thomas Cassone, the city’s director of legal affairs, wrote a legal memo that stated that officials did not need the approval of either the Board of Finance or the Board of Representatives “to enter into an agreement with either an owner's representative or an architect to complete a schematic design for the project.”

His opinion came based on the city’s purchasing ordinance, which has conditions in it when funds from outside sources, like federal or state dollars, are involved. The Advocate reported that one of the conditions that doesn’t require the approval of local boards is when "a majority of the funding is provided by the federal or state government."

The memo came after the Board of Finance refused to approve contracts for Roxbury’s design and architectural work due to concerns about the escalating costs for Westhill.

Laura Burwick, a member of the Board of Finance, said that the thought of the district circumventing the board is “really concerning.”

“I just want to be really clear that if there’s a workaround because the state’s providing a certain amount of money or whatever it is that you’re talking about doing about not coming to us for approval of money or contracts, it’s going to be a big problem,” she said in January, adding that “if there’s been an effort to circumvent this board I will not vote to approve funding for Roxbury.”

As part of the discussion, the board asked for an update on the financial and construction plans for both sites. That’s coming up on Thursday, February 5 at 7 p.m.

As for the demolition, school officials and the consultants working on the project outlined how the buildings would be demolished.

At Roxbury, the plan is to do the demolition in two phases. First, the “two portables along with four classrooms will be demolished in 2026,” according to Kelly Nelli, from Arcadis, a consultant on the project. “Once that’s completed and our new building is constructed and our students have moved in, the rest of the school will be demolished.”

That second phase is scheduled for 2028.

At Westhill, demolition of a greenhouse storage building will take place this spring, followed by the freshman gym in the summer, with the bulk of the demolition coming after the new school is built.

“Construction is expected to extend from summer 2026 to summer 2029 and then the remainder of 2029 and 2030 would be for demolition of the old high school,” Adam Levitus of Colliers Engineering and Design told the Board of Finance in January. 

Officials said they were asking for permission now to get the permits set and in order. 

The Board of Representatives now has to vote on approving these plans. They’re on the board’s agenda for Feb. 2.

More updates on the projects overall will come at the February 5 Board of Finance meeting.

Norwalk Plans to Delay West Rocks Construction 

Last year, Norwalk school officials unveiled a plan to replace West Rocks Middle School with a “new state-of-the-art” building. The current building has been in use since 1956. It was listed as one of the school buildings most in need of repair, according to a 2021 study of the school district’s facilities.

Now officials say they’re putting those plans on hold for a year to save money.

NancyonNorwalk reported that the city estimates it could save $5 million if it pushed the construction back a year. The initial plan was to start it in 2027, but now that will be moved to 2028. The city is eligible for a slightly higher reimbursement rate from the state—moving it from 60% to 65%—now that it’s a member of the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority. 

Community to Weigh in on South Norwalk Roundabout

Last week we highlighted how communities were investing in the roads around schools to make them safer. In Norwalk, the city is planning to install a roundabout at the intersection of Meadow Street, South Main Street, and Wilson Avenue near the South Norwalk Elementary School. 

This week, residents are invited to learn more about the plans and what they mean for the community at an open house on Monday, February 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the school.

Norwalk Council to Vote on South Norwalk School Name

Speaking of the South Norwalk Elementary School, it soon could have a new name. The proposal to name the building after Dr. Ruby Shaw, a local educator and community leader, is in front of the council’s Land Use and Building Management Committee on Wednesday, February 3. If it passes the committee, it’ll move to the full council for official approval.