The ConVal School Board discussed options for the proposed renovations to ConVal High School’s Career and Technical Education center and to the Lucy Hurlin Theater, including possibly postponing the proposed renovations to the theater, at Tuesday night’s meeting.
School Board Chair Dick Dunning outlined the three options for the project, which was initiated in 2022 to take advantage of the regular rounds of state CTE funding supporting workplace and professional training centers for high school students.
“We have three options we can bring to the public for their feedback. The first is that we do the whole project as is currently proposed, which includes renovations to the CTE/high school and to the theater. The second option is that we just do the theater project, and the third option is that we proceed with just the CTE/high school project, and we possibly postpone the theater project, ” Dunning said. “We will approach the towns and find out which way they wish to proceed.”
However, School Board member Jim Fredickson of Sharon said Dunning misspoke, and that the three options were to do just the CTE/high school project, do the whole project as proposed or a phased approach in which the theater is done later. Dunning agreed.
The district is considering asking ConVal towns to approve a bond for $18.76 million to cover the renovations for the high school and the CTE, which is also known as the Applied Technology Center. Additional renovations to the theater are estimated at $10.65 million, which would bring a bond for all three projects to $29.3 million. The total cost for the three projects is estimated at $44.1 million, with $14 million reimbursed the state.
School Board member Alan Edelkind of Dublin, chair of the Communications Committee, clarified that available state funding for the CTE would cover part of what is needed to upgrade the career center, but would not cover the additional renovations to attached portions of the high school, or the proposed renovations to the theater.
Jennifer Kiley, director of the ConVal CTE center, explained the critical timing of the CTE renovation project.
“These funds will not be available in the future. If the bond for the project does not pass this year, we lose the opportunity to receive the funding for the CTE. This program actually brings in funding to the school, as students tuition in from outside the district. This is the last year we are eligible for this funding,” Kiley said.
Kiley explained to the board that regular upgrades to CTE centers in New Hampshire are scheduled for every 20 years, as the technology and the equipment in the centers becomes outdated and out of touch with the needs of local industry.
“The ConVal CTE program helps students exit our high school program and go into industry or post-secondary education. We need space and supplies that replicate industry. Things that were built 20 years ago no longer represent industry,” Kiley said. “Our committee has worked very hard and done extensive research with local employers to find out what they need from the schools so we can produce students with the skills they need to enter the workforce or enter secondary training.”
Kiley added that local industry has already demonstrated interest in donating equipment to the upgraded CTE, which could offset 25% of the cost.
“That includes health and health science, as we have a dearth of vets in this area,” she said.
Edelkind noted that if Francestown and Dublin withdraw from the ConVal district, the seven remaining towns would vote on the bond. Answering questions from the board, Dunning explained that the planned renovations to the high school and the CTE cannot be separated.
“We can’t make the necessary renovations to the CTE without also renovating part of the high school, as they are attached, and there are safety issues,” Dunning said.
ConVal has scheduled a public forum to gather input on the project on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Lucy Hurlin Theater. Members of the public are encouraged to send ques tions ahead of time to forum@conval.edu.
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