A virtual workshop has been held to discuss progress on creating a Career Academy for middle and high school aged students in Danbury.  The $99 million project would be reimbursed by the state at 80-percent, which is much higher than the typical 66-percent rate.  Finance Director David St Hilaire says there will be a relatively small impact on the projected debt service over the next decade. 

Former Mayor Mark Boughton is leading the Career Academy Steering Committee.  An application must be submitted to the state by October 1st, but a draft was requested by September 1st. 

The goal is to address overcrowding while providing more opportunity to study various careers.  Plans eventually call for six academies within the school focused on professional health services; information, cybersecurity and technology; scientific innovation and medicine; global enterprise and economics; art, engineering and design; and communications and design.

Three pods at the Summit would be used, with another parcel at the former Union Carbide world headquarters used for a gymnasium. 

The mixed-use development on the City's west side will seek a reduction in the number of apartments being constructed to make room for the school.  Boughton and the developer previously came to an agreement for an annual fee of $550,000 to the City to offset the costs of any additional students from the apartments.

The Danbury Planning Commission will review the Summit’s revised plan next week.  A zoning regulation change allowing a public, secondary school at the site will be considered by the Zoning Commission the following week, with a public hearing planned for May 11th.