Meriden Record-Journal: Feds could fund Meriden school renovations, Murphy says

January 05 2012

For the original article, please visit MyRecordJournal.com.

MERIDEN - In its 40-plus years of existence, Casimir Pulaski School has never received an upgrade. The windows, flooring and even thin, sliding walls in some rooms are all original. The school, like many others in the city school district, is in need of renovation. The need across the state and nation for updates combined with a lack of funds, however, has made some of the buildings even more outdated.

Renovations and updates could be on their way to the buildings should the federal American Jobs Act be passed. Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Christopher S. Murphy, D-Conn., visited Pulaski School to view conditions there so he could report his findings in Washington.

"Unfortunately, this is not a unique school," Murphy said. "There are thousands of schools around this country and state where teachers are making do, where educational miracles are happening on a daily basis, but where school improvements are long, long overdue."

With more than 700 students, Pulaski School has about 100 more pupils than any other school in the district. Based on its 69,000-square-foot size, however, the building is average-sized compared to others in the city.

Makeshift classroom space was pointed out as Murphy toured the building with Board of Education member and city officials. Several corners of hallways are sectioned off for private tutoring space. Some tutoring takes place outside of classrooms, in the hallways.

"Every corner of this school has to be used," said Principal Tom Brown.

Extra space, however, requires money, which neither the city nor state has available to spend freely. The proposed $447 billion jobs bill failed to receive the 60 votes necessary for passage in the Senate last year. President Barack Obama has since divided it into several parts, hoping that will make it more palatable to spending-wary lawmakers.

Murphy voiced his support for the bill, which would create jobs through thousands of projects, including updating schools and roads. Under the education portion of the bill, Connecticut would receive about $185 million for projects such updating boilers, putting in new windows and making other energy-efficient improvements.

With the improvements, school districts could save thousands of dollars each year, Murphy said. The first $185 million could also lead to more money for school construction and redevelopment.

"It could create 2,400 construction jobs," Murphy said.

With about half the state's construction workforce either out of work or seeing out the rough times with temporary employment, the jobs are also needed, said David Roche of the Connecticut State Building and Construction Trades Council, who also toured the school. Roche also applauded what the school has done with the space it has.

"You've done so much with so little," Roche said. "You could do so much more though with some more space."