Voters approve massive renovation project for schools in Enfield

ENFIELD, CT. (WFSB) - Voters approved a massive renovation project for schools in Enfield.

The project, which costs $511 million, has multiple fascets to it. Hazardville Memorial, Parkman, Barnard, and Prudence Crandall Elementary Schools will be newly constructed and Eli Whitney Elementary School will be converted to a therapeutic day school.

“No teacher, no faculty and no children should be subjected to windows, falling out, leaks, mold, or outdated technology all which is true in our schools,” said Christina Lange, who attended grade school in the 1960s when the buildings were new.

State grants and reimbursements will cover the bulk of the price tag. Taxpayers will pay $89 million, which will be funded through three decades of tax increases.

Town leaders estimate an increase of hundreds of dollars a year starting in 2029.

“It’s a lot, it’s no small thing, but our children are more important than that,” added Lange.

“I think we kind of start thinking outside the box a little bit more and stop just looking at the dollar amount and start looking what we actually can contribute as a community,” said Eric Wilkerson, whose son goes to Prudence Crandall Elementary School.

The process can begin once the votes are officially certified.

Officials say that they want the first of the fully rebuilt schools to open in 2030.