Cusano: 'Enthusiasm' Growing Over High School Renovation Project

Members of a political action committee are working to generate support for a referendum on the proposed $44.66 million renovation project and their first task is gathering people to attend a public hearing later this week.

In late March, Rocky Hill High School was awarded continued accreditation, but was placed on a warning list by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges Inc. Commission on Public Secondary Schools.

The political action committee  made its mission to garner enough support from residents to pass any referendum question that keeps the high school accredited and addresses the 

In the , "Stay Accredited" has continued to grow each day, according to Chairman Todd Cusano. Members of the group are worried that if the referendum does not pass and the school is put on probation, students will struggle to get into college, property values will drop and families will not move to Rocky Hill.

"Rocky Hill has much to be proud of, so the failure to maintain our schools is something that hundreds of families are coming forward to say 'this is unacceptable' and 'we need to act,'" Cusano said in an email to Patch Monday morning.

In 2008, a referendum on the long-range school facilities plan, which included three smaller elementary schools and all-day kindergarten, failed. In 2010, the second referendum plan did not include all-day kindergarten and had only two elementary schools. However, the referendum again did not pass.

Cusano feels the previous referendums failed because residents were not fully informed of the reasons and costs associated with the school facilities projects.

"'Stay Accredited' appreciates that sentiment, and is focused on distributing full and accurate information concerning the scope of the referendum and its costs to the residents," he said. "With full and accurate information, we are confident that residents will vote in favor of this referendum."

Cusano cited two "overriding reasons" why this current referendum is different than two previous failed ones. First, the high school is at risk of losing its accreditation and second, the referendum would address those needs to overcome the NEASC concerns.

On Thursday night, hundreds of parents, students and residents are expected to attend a public hearing at 7 p.m. inside the high school auditorium on the renovate as new project for the Rocky Hill High School. The council is to set a referendum date, which should be June 5, and the amount that will be budgeted for the project.

However, the efforts of the "Stay Accredited" members will not end Thursday night. They will continue to talk to residents at sporting events, in local businesses and throughout the community. Signs will be posted on lawns and members are expected to visit residents at their homes.

"This is a political campaign without the politics," Cusano said. "This is, indeed, about our town." 

"Stay Accredited" is also looking for donations. People can send a personal check made payable to “Stay Accredited” to Marc Beliveau at 115 Silo Drive in Rocky Hill. 

"Donations have been generous and steady, a clear sign of how our community is coming together," Cusano said.

Anyone interested in joining the group or the email distribution list can contact Cusano at tcusano@att.net.

Enjoy reading Patch? Show us some love! Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.