There will be a lot of police stationed at Danbury schools today.  The heightened police presence is because of the schools being used as voting locations for the bond referendum. 

The Mayor's Office, Police Department, Office of Emergency Management and the Public School District coordinated the effort.  There will also be restricted access to the school buildings during voting hours.  Mayor Dean Esposito says the security of children, teachers and staff is their top priority and felt it was necessary to provide these additional resources while the public will be casting their votes, through 8pm. 

The bulk of the more than $200 million school bond package is for the proposed Danbury Career Academy.  The ballot contains two separate questions for the significant new construction and improvements for the Danbury School District Facilities and grounds. 

Danbury residents are being asked to sign off on $164 million for the Danbury Career Academy Bond and $43.9 million for district wide improvements.  State reimbursement of 80-percent of eligible costs on the Career Academy and 60-percent on the renovations would lower the direct impact on taxpayers.  The proposal calls for buying little more than 30 acres of land, the former Cartus site, and renovating the building. 

The district wide improvements are for an elevator at Hayestown Elementary, DHS Phase 1 accreditation, a roof for King Street Primary, DHS ADA compliance, and Pre-K Center/Early Childhood Center.