RSD 17 Offers Guided Tours of School Buildings

By Editorial Staff

(August 19, 2023) — As part of its development of a Master Plan for renewal and improvement of its buildings, Regional School District 17 will offer guided tours on August 24, and August 25, 2023 in order to inform and engage the community in the process.

Tours will be offered on Thursday, August 24th at 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at Killingworth Elementary School and Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate/Middle School; and on Friday, August 25th at 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at Burr Elementary School and Haddam-Killingworth High School.

RSD 17 invites members of the community to join these tours and see firsthand the areas of its buildings that are in need of improvement, and they seek the public’s feedback and input as development of the Master Plan proceeds.

The District has contracted with Tecton Architects to produce the Plan, which will guide RSD 17 with research-based knowledge of the best models to incorporate the  District’s mission and educational vision, as well as national educational standards, and provide a  framework for implementation. 

The vision and desired outcomes for this project include the following goals: 

• A comprehensive, holistic plan that takes into account all of the schools;  

• Study of the school buildings’ structural integrity, infrastructure, and ability to meet District needs; 

• A District-wide projected enrollment assessment (including the variable of COVID’s impact on the  housing market); and 

• A long-term Capital Management Plan for the future that includes considerations such as climate change on buildings and mechanical infrastructures; and

• A District-wide Master Plan. 

It is the District’s intent that the planning process be comprehensive and lead to the adoption of a district-wide long-term Master Plan that will provide the model for facilities planning for a short-term (1 – 5  years), mid-range (5 – 10 years), and long-range (10 – 20 years). The short, medium, and long-term actions shall be presented in tiered good, better, and best solutions. The Plan will take into account current facility deficiencies, capacity, as well as demographics. 

For more information on the school building tours, visit the Master Plan Project website: sites.google.com/rsd17.org/masterplanproject/home.