June 2, 2016

State Funds School Improvements in Bloomfield

BLOOMFIELD—State Senators Eric Coleman (D-Bloomfield) and Beth Bye (D-West Hartford) and state Representative David Baram (D-Bloomfield) announced today that the State Bond Commission has approved more than a million dollars for general improvements to school buildings in Bloomfield, thanks to votes they made in 2015 to support Connecticut’s public schools.

On Friday, the State Bond Commission approved $1.213 million for Bloomfield to make various school improvements, including windows, doors, boilers, heating and ventilation systems, communications/technology systems, lockers, floors, ceilings, restrooms, lighting, energy efficiency, entryways, driveways, parking areas, play areas, athletic fields, various equipment, roof repairs and installation or upgrade of security equipment.

The funding was approved as part of the 2015 state bonding bill, which pays for state capital projects and grant programs, including school construction, economic development, municipal aid, and housing development and rehabilitation programs. Both Sens. Coleman and Bye and Rep. Baram both voted for that bill.

“The state is a partner with the town and its residents in protecting our investment in public education, both in terms of the buildings themselves and the students who are educated in them,” Sen. Coleman said. “This funding will take some of the burden off of the local taxpayers to maintain the public schools while simultaneously giving kids a safe and modern place to learn.”

“It’s one thing to build a school; it’s another to maintain and update that school over the decades, which is what these state funds will help do,” Sen. Bye said. “Any investment in our school infrastructure is also an investment in our children, so I’m happy to have helped make these improvements necessary.”

“This funding will help continue to promote educational quality in Bloomfield by providing students improved facilities that support the learning environment,” said Rep. Baram.

The new funding is specifically tied to the state’s Alliance District program, which Connecticut created in order to support 30 different school districts seeking to dramatically increase student outcomes and close achievement gaps by pursuing innovative reforms. In total, Connecticut’s Alliance schools serve more than 200,000 students in 410 different schools.