By Editorial Staff
(August 15, 2026) — The Regional School District 17 Board of Education has announced a schedule of meetings, tours and public information sessions in connection with renovations to Haddam-Killingworth High School, leading to a referendum on the building project in late September.
On the District website, www.rsd17.org, the following schedule is presented:
August 18, 2026 6:30 p.m. Tours of the High School, Meet Outside HKHS Auditorium
August 18, 2026 7:00 p.m. Community Information Session, HKHS Auditorium
August 22, 2026 10:00 a.m. Community Information Session, HKHS Auditorium
August 25, 2026 5:30 p.m. Public Hearing followed by Special Meeting to Set Referendum Date
September 24, 2026 Proposed Referendum Date
From the District website: “Improving Haddam-Killingworth High School remains an urgent and significant priority. The Board of Education has worked with diligence, transparency, and fiscal responsibility, ensuring that the process reflects the needs and values of our community. This project will have a total cost of $151,900,00. The Board anticipates receipt of grants from the State of Connecticut of approximately $74,800,000, representing reimbursement of approximately 51.43% of eligible project expenses. The estimated net cost to Haddam and Killingworth taxpayers, therefore, will be $77,200,000.”
I think I understand the Connecticut laws regarding what will and what won’t be paid for, at least partly, by the State when school districts look to build or rebuild a school building. RSD17’s “rebuild as new” was the only way the State agreed to cover half of the $151 million for a “new” HKHS. In any case, if we vote for or against building this new HKHS, the old building and the potential new school are way too big, by half. We had only 466 high school students, with ever-dwindling numbers expected in the coming years.