FALLS VILLAGE—A proposed $5.6 million facilities upgrade for Housatonic Valley Regional High School was presented in a public hearing Monday night and is tentatively scheduled for a referendum vote Monday, Jan. 8, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the member town’s town halls.
The project has been under consideration for years, with Jacunski Humes Architects having provided a school facilities study in 2020.
Since then, the HVRHS Building Committee has determined the highest priority projects among the 58 areas suggested by the Jacunski report and drawings and specifications were drafted. Twelve areas were selected for improvement, including renovations to the cafeteria and auditorium; science wing restrooms upgrades; improvement of the air handling and air conditioning systems in Room 133 and central office; rehabilitation of the crumbling tennis courts; installation of a whole-school generator; audio-visual equipment for the auditorium and cafeteria; masonry repairs around the school; installation of a new fire alarm and breaker boxes, and replacement of the cupola.
The impact of a new bond issue would boost the 2024-25 Region 1 budget by $138,859. In Kent, this would add $17,778 to its budget.
In 2023-24, debt accounted for 5 percent of a $17,031,827 Region 1 budget. That level would increase to 5.59 percent in 2024-25, and then drop to 4.23 percent of an anticipated $18.5 million Region 1 budget in 2025-26
