Groundbreaking at Tolland’s Birch Grove Primary School

State Representatives Pat Wilson Pheanious (D-53) and Tim Ackert (R-8) joined Tolland town and education officials, teachers, parents, and students for a groundbreaking ceremony at Birch Grove Primary School Thursday afternoon, signifying the start of a project to rebuild the school.

The project is anticipated to be completed in the next 21 months, and the school is scheduled to reopen Fall 2021. Following the ceremony, students performed a song in honor of their school.

“I was pleased to join state and town officials in the groundbreaking of Birch Grove School,” said Rep. Wilson Pheanious. “It is essential that this project is completed on time and on budget so that we can get our students back into the classroom as soon as possible.”

“We knew from the beginning of the crumbing concrete crisis that public buildings such as schools would also be impacted,” said Rep. Ackert. “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my House and Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle – especially on the Education Committee – for making this reconstruction possible and understanding the urgency of this situation. With the ground breaking today, we are one step closer to getting our students back into permanent classrooms.”

“We’re very grateful to the state representatives, the state, and the community for making this happen. It’s turned a tragic situation for Tolland into a hopeful one for the community and entire region,” said Tolland Superintendent Walter Willett.

In July the state Bond Commission approved funding to reimburse the town of Tolland for 89 percent of the cost to rebuild Birch Grove Primary School.

With the 89 percent reimbursement, Tolland will be responsible for paying $5 million.  This is saving Tolland taxpayers $17 million.

Rep. Wilson Pheanious, with assistance from Rep. Ackert and Senator Dan Champagne, was able to negotiate for the unusually high reimbursement rate based on the emergency circumstances caused by the detection of a crumbling foundation at the school. Standard state reimbursement for local school construction projects are in the 50 percent range, which varies by town and project.

Tolland voters overwhelmingly approved $46 million in bonding for the Birch Grove project at a town referendum May 7, with the expectation of a 52 percent state reimbursement, resulting in a $22 million cost to Tolland.

The bill, SB 1210, authorizes state grant commitments for various local school building projects throughout the state. Specifically, a provision in the legislation says “the town of Tolland may use the reimbursement rate of eighty-nine per cent for the renovation project at Birch Grove Primary School to address the emergency situation at said school relating to the presence of pyrrhotite in the foundation.”