Superintendent Thomas Scarice is recommending the district build a new school instead of renovating Long Lots ahead of a vote from the school board on the options for the elementary school. The Board of Education is expected to vote next week on whether to take the next steps for renovating Long Lots or build a new structure on the same site — most likely where the athletic fields are. That vote would only give officials the go-ahead on the needed preliminary studies for that approach, not actually commit the district to building new or renovating. Officials stressed there are still more steps and public involvement before that point. John Koplas, senior project manager at Colliers, the project management firm working with the district, said the state doesn’t allow abatement at elementary schools while children are in school and so there would have to be a phased approach if renovating. “That also extends the timetable,” he said, adding new construction would take about 14 to 16 months and the phased approach would add eight to 14 months to that.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/westport/article/Westport-superintendent-wants-new-elementary-17225503.php