Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has submitted a proposal to the City Council that contains about 61 million dollars for a Danbury High School redesign, along with program and facility upgrades to the Alternative Center for Excellence (ACE).  A new wing at the High School would be created to accommodate the projected increase in the high school population in the coming years according to a presentation made by Boughton during his State of the City address. 

A summary of the projects will be provided to a committee of the Council and during a public hearing session.  Boughton expects greater than a majority of the cost to be reimbursed by state or federal dollars. 

For the past week or so, Boughton says he's been in around the clock meetings with Superintendent Dr Sal Pascarella, staff at ACE and students.  There's not a strong consensus on whether building a new building is the right way to go.  The staff has pointed out some intangibles about the current facility, the feel of the building, and he wants to take more time to consider those issues. 

The ACE side of the bond package has been tabled for now.  There's a waiting list every year for ACE of about 25 students.  The faculty had some concerns about relocating up to the high school, so he wants to look at whether the space on Locust Avenue can be reconfigured.  Some renovations inside the building would be required.

He anticipates a June 2nd referendum.

Boughton hopes that the leadership committee looking into the bonding will meet this month, and that most members of the Council will attend.  The matter will then be placed on the Council agenda for the April 7th meeting.  During the budget hearing, a public hearing about the High School will also be on the agenda.  A special meeting for the high school project will be held after the hearing in order to meet statutory deadlines for the vote in June.

The proposed high school project would include the new Freshman academy, a solar power farm, new entrance and a reconfigured cafeteria.  If ACE does move to the High School campus, it would replace the current free-standing auto shop.

The DHS principal, students, staff, Pascarella, the Board of Education, and the 2020 Committee have seen the concept of the plans and signed off on them.