Rep. Carpino, Sen. Lesser, Local Leaders Break Ground at Construction Site for new Cromwell Middle School

(CROMWELL, CT) –  State Representative Christie Carpino, State Senator Matt Lesser, and local leaders broke ground on the Cromwell Middle School construction project.

Last summer,  Rep. Carpino and Sen. Lesser announced that they had they had secured a significant increase in the state reimbursement rate for this project from the Department of Administrative Services. With a reimbursement rate increase from 39.64% to 49.64%, Cromwell taxpayers could save as much as $7 million on this project.

In June 2022, Cromwell voters approved constructing a replacement for the current school based on estimates of $58.6 million. Due to price increases, the project required an additional $14 million, which voters approved in a referendum in May 2023.

“The Cromwell Middle School project is a much needed upgrade for the town, and after a longstanding, collective effort to get this project off the ground and funded, I am so thrilled to take part in the ground breaking,” State Senator Matt Lesser said. “Rep. Carpino and I worked to secure a high reimbursement rate from the State, giving students the tools and facilities they need to thrive while saving Cromwell taxpayers as much as $7 million.”

“Time moves forward and so should the Cromwell Middle School,” said State Representative Christie Carpino. “Today we celebrate the start of a long-term investment in the education of our kids. This is a project I’m proud to support and I look forward to the positive impact it will have our students for decades to come.”

The new middle school intends to address a number of long range plans and goals including:
• A school with a 491 student capacity
• Improved educational spaces with access to daylight and technology throughout the building
• Remediate all hazardous materials concerns
• New heating, and cooling and piping central systems to improve indoor air quality and allow the school to function year-round
• New electrical systems infrastructure to allow for technology in all instructional spaces
• A complete fire protection system (sprinklers) to provide a safe environment
• Allow for space for all staff and educators to meet and collaborate
• To facilitate the introduction of a STEAM theme and encourage cross-discipline learning
• Improve and continue to incorporate the core secondary instructional spaces: art, music, life and social skills
• An ADA compliant school
• Academic goals for literacy, social studies, mathematics, science, wellness, music, art, and outdoor learning

For more information on the project, please visit this link.