A referendum is being held in Bethel today on school renovations. 

School officials are applying to the state Department of Administrative Services for space standard waivers for Rockwell and Johnson schools.  The proposed renovation projects could be partially reimbursed by the state.  Superintendent Christine Carver says the waiver for Rockwell could mean another $2 million in savings down the road.  State officials asked the town to look at the proposed square footage of the Johnson project.  Some design modifications were made to reduce common area spaces. 

The state verbally agreed to a space standard waiver there as well. 

Carver says they are now formally requesting those waivers, while submitting paperwork to get on the school construction funding priority list.  In the past, the state reimbursed all eligible projects.  Due to the massive deficits in recent years, the criteria for funding has changed. 

The way Bethel's charter is written, a referendum has to be held before November 15th, to show resident-backing of the project, in order to get on the state priority list.