By Michelle L. Santoro

Sherman – What a difference a year makes!  Between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday October 5, at the Sherman Emergency Services Facility, Sherman electors and taxpayers were asked to vote yes or no on the following question:

QUESTION 1: “SHALL THE TOWN OF SHERMAN APPROPRIATE $42,800,000 TO RENOVATE AS NEW SHERMAN SCHOOL INCLUSIVE OF ITS CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE AND AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS OR NOTES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO- EXCEED $32,075,000 TO FINANCE THE APPROPRIATION, OR ANY LESSER AMOUNT AS MAY BE NECESSARY AFTER DEDUCTING GRANTS TO BE RECEIVED FOR THE PROJECT?”

Almost one year to the day, more than 1,400 people voted, and nearly two-thirds of those votes were “Yes,” signaling a 180-degree turn from the 2023 referendum.  In a vote of 961 in favor versus 505 opposed, the Sherman School Renovate-to-New Referendum passed.  Last year’s results were completely flipped with 914 opposing versus 509 in favor.  Selectman Joel Bruzinski was glad to see the referendum pass by an almost 2-1 margin.  “A potential scenario that I had concerns about would have been if the referendum had passed but by a very narrow margin, leaving the town heading into a major project without a solid mandate from the taxpayers.  Saturday’s outcome is a distinct mandate and shows that the town is decisively behind this project having been given more ample time and information to fully consider it,” he said.

For those who have worked for more than a year on the prior proposal and putting together a new proposal for the Town, one can only imagine the feeling of relief.  Sherman First Selectman Don Lowe said, “Thousands of goodhearted volunteer hours were spent on presenting the necessary information, readying the vote, and putting the information out to the public. I commend and remain impressed of everyone who helped.”

After last year’s referendum failed, the Sherman Board of Selectmen (“BOS”), members of the School Building Committee (“SBC”) and the Board of Education (“BOE”) were resolute in forging forward, and part of that resolution was for complete transparency about the project and process, and education of the community.  Given the result and 180-degree turnaround, it appears all involved succeeded in their efforts at transparency and ed ucation.  BOE Chair Matt Vogt said, “I am thrilled at the results of the referendum and thankful for all the many hours of work so many volunteers in town put in to get this plan developed. I am looking forward to getting the Sherman School back into the condition that our students, teachers, and frankly the Town of Sherman deserves.”

Prior to the referendum, on September 26, the BOE held a special meeting to review modifications to the preliminary Educational Specifications for the proposed Sherman School Renovation and Central Administrative Space Projects, which were previously discussed at the July special meeting and public hearing.  The following were highlighted: (i) the necessity of ensuring operable and effective faculty/staff communication devices were included within finalized specifications, and (ii) the need to fully describe rei mbursement bonus requests as they related to Sherman’s regional approach to education of high school students through interdistrict cooperatives and early learning spaces within the proposed project.  An overview of required submissions related to state gr ant assistance was also provided. 

Following discussion at the special meeting, BOE Member Tim Laughlin made a motion to approve “Educational Specifications for the Sherman School Renovation Project and Sherman School Administrative Space Project, inclusive of permitting the Superintendent, prior to submission of these specifications to the Department of Administrative Services, to make such technical, grammatical and punctuation changes as are necessary to carry out the purposes of these specifications, including, but not limited to, correcting inaccuracies and finalizing as required related sections to reimbursement requests as appropriate”  and a second motion to “authorize the Superintendent to take any and all necessary and appropriate actions to submit state grant applications for the Sherman School Renovation Project and Sherman School Administrative Space Project and take such actions no later than October 1, 2024 as required by Public Act 24-151.”  Both motions were approved by all present.

After the referendum results, Superintendent Dr. Patricia Cosentino thanked the community.  “Thank you to the Sherman community for passing the renovate to new Sherman School project. The renovated building will be an excellent place for students to learn and achieve. The building will be a learning environment that is safe and highly efficient. It will be a wonderful addition to the Sherman community. We are very grateful!” Mr. Lowe added, “I am pleased that such a large majority of Sherman voters recognize the value in having a well-functioning school facility. And now the work begins to achieve that.”