If you are in favor of preserving historic buildings, then pay attention to the ballot questions on the Middletown and Portland ballots. In both cases, the future of beautiful stone schools will be decided. The re-use of such buildings is beneficial environmentally, culturally, and often financially.
On the Middletown ballot, question #3 asks voters whether to authorize borrowing and spending up to $48.9 million to renovate the over 100-year-old Macdonough School on Spring Street and replace its addition. Macdonough School is a community center for the entire North End neighborhood, and its location allows many students to walk to school. In recent years, there has been talk of closing Macdonough and busing students to other elementary schools. Such proposals have been strongly resisted by residents, for several good reasons. The renovation of Macdonough will settle that issue for decades to come. (See Middletown sample ballot below.)
On Portland’s ballot, question #2 asks voters if the Town should appropriate $68 million for the consolidation of 3 elementary schools by closing Gildersleeve and Brownstone Schools and renovating and expanding Valley View School on High Street into a pre-K through grade 5 school. Voters should note that this plan was opposed by a majority of the school facilities study committee, whose preferred option was to renovate the historic Brownstone School on Main Street for 4th and 5th graders, and to close only Gildersleeve School. This two-school option is a better long-term plan not only because it preserves the Brownstone School, but it retains space for future expansion if needed. It seems that the one-school option was put on the ballot because it is slightly less expensive in the short term than the two-school option. Those who favor the two-school option cite a number of educational, longer-term financial, and preservation-related reasons. A “No” vote will help preserve the Brownstone School. (See Portland’s sample ballot below.)
The November 5 ballots include other questions, too. In Middletown, voters are also asked whether they support a $10 million appropriation for a new 911 Dispatch Center. In Portland, question #3 asks voters whether they support a $6 million appropriation for construction of a new water source. Ballots of both municipalities include question #1 on an amendment to the State of Connecticut Constitution allowing absentee voting for all voters, regardless of the reason.
And then, of course, are the candidates, whom the Jonah Center is not allowed to endorse. VOTE ON NOVEMBER 5 !!