Newtown officials have provided an update on the demolition and rebuilding of Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Officials said the community would be informed of progress of construction through a website that's currently under development.  The Newtown Public Building and Site Commission is designated as the Building Committee for the project.  The Commission's meetings are open to the public.

Hazardous material has been abated and the entire school has been demolished.  The site was graded and stabilized for the winter.  Official say it cost about $1.3 million for remediation and $850,000 for the demolition.  Security at the site is still in place. 

Four community meetings have been held at this point by Svigals and Partners architects for input on the design of the new school.  The next steps are to finalize the architectural and engineering drawings, then complete the state review and finally secure all approvals needed from state agencies.

No decision has been made about the new access road that was required for building on the same site.  Land acquisition efforts have not been successful.  Town officials plan to make a final decision on the access road at meeting being held next Wednesday. 

Work on the access road will begin in the spring with shovel in the ground work for the building in late summer or early fall.