Danbury students are back in class and some will notice changes to their schools.  The gym floors at Morris Street and King Street Intermediate were replaced.  A new roof is being put on Morris Street School and work is scheduled to start on that in September.  All three elementary schools are being renovated and expanded. 

Superintendent of Schools Dr Sal Pascarella says nearly two dozen classrooms are being added to help alleviate overcrowding issues the district could face with an estimated additional 100 students each year for the next 5 years.

Pascarella says all security measures were reassessed over the summer.  In a back-to-school message, he said they have also increased the number of social workers in the district to provide counselling to identify and work with students who need extra assistance.

Exterior door locks were upgraded on all buildings.  Panic buttons were also installed in various locations.  A new district-wide card access system was installed that allows access to be programmed individually for card holders. 

In one Danbury neighborhood, there was some school bus rerouting done.  Public Works Director Antonio Iadarola says that's because of construction on the right side of Park Avenue School and an access road to the street adjacent to the school.  Three buses for half an hour in the afternoons will have to use the access onto Crescent Drive.  

A custodian will be there to monitor the activities.  There is also a chain that gets locked and signage to safeguard traffic around the construction site when workers are at the school.

Iadarola says they did meet with the residents who had some concerns, but most of them have been addressed.