GRANVILLE – On Monday evening at the Granville Village School, Granville residents voted 63-48 in favor of approving the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District’s FY (Fiscal Year) 18 capital borrowing plan.
Previously, Granville residents voted the capital borrowing budget down at two separate special town meetings. Before Monday night’s vote, Southwick and Tolland already decided to take no action, which meant that the budget passed in both towns.
Needing the budget to pass in all three towns, the result of Granville’s special town meeting vote allows the budget to move forward. It was something that Superintendent Jen Willard was very happy to see happen.
“I’m just so happy for the children in the school district,” said Willard. “I truly feel that this is the beginning of us coming together.”
With a total of $525,000, the FY18 capital improvement plan consists of the following items:
- Transportation vehicles $200,000
- Technology $150,000
- Equipment $50,000
- Buildings $25,000
- Playground $100,000
Superintendent Jen Willard speaks to Granville residents about the capital borrowing vote. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
Accounting for more than half of the budget, transportation and technology are important items in the budget. The transportation portion allows the district to purchase three new mid-size buses. The buses will primarily benefit the children that live in Granville. As there are several roads in Granville that make it extremely difficult for regular-size buses to get down the street, the mid-size buses will be able to pick up children right near their homes.
The technology will help the district get prepared for MCAS 2.0 testing, which is mandated by the state by the spring of 2019. The $150,000 in technology will be going towards hard wiring and wireless connections, as well as any additional computers that the district may need.
“We need to start there in order to start moving forward with the technology in the hands of the children,” said Willard.
Being a tough time after the Granville Village School closing, Granville Select Board member David Ripley was pleased to see things move forward between Granville and the school district.
“I’m glad the vote has come to the conclusion so the district can move on with their capital improvements,” said Ripley. “Hopefully the improvement money will benefit the technology and the best interest of the children.”
