June 21, 2013

WALLINGFORD LAWMAKERS WIN EDUCATION PROJECTS

Wallingford's legislative delegation passed a number of education projects in the recently concluded legislative session, Rep. Mary Mushinsky reported in an emailed letter to Dr. Sal Menzo, Superintendent of Schools and Roxane McKay, Chairwoman of the Board of Education. They include:

1. A waiver for forgiveness and reimbursement of $116,808 for construction at Vernon E. Cleaves Vocational Agricultural School at Lyman Hall High School, which had been disallowed due to timing;

2. Energy improvement grants for Lyman Hall and Sheehan High Schools; and

3. A language change to allow a previous authorization for up to $525,000 for Sheehan High School baseball fields to be used for any Wallingford school athletic fields. The district has said it would like to improve athletic fields at Lyman Hall High School.

The legislature also restored town funding to hold Wallingford and other towns harmless.

Mushinsky and Rep. Mary Fritz worked with other local legislators to win the changes in SB 842, the bond package, and SB 876, the school construction legislation.

"An additional step will still be needed to release funds for the Lyman Hall athletic fields—the State Bond Commission must approve the release," Mushinsky said.

State Rep. Mary Mushinsky is Co-Chair of the legislature's Program Review and Investigations Committee, and a member of the Environment and the Finance, Revenue and Bonding committees.