Sen. Lesser Welcomes Cromwell Middle School Completion

CROMWELL, CT – Today, State Senator Matt Lesser toured the brand-new Cromwell Middle School ahead of its official ribbon cutting next week.

In 2023, Sen. Lesser, alongside his colleague State Representative Christie Carpino, announced that they had secured a significant increase in the state reimbursement rate for this project from the Department of Administrative Services. With a reimbursement rate increase from 39.64% to 49.64%, Cromwell taxpayers saw a savings of $6.8 million on this project, that came in on-time and under-budget.

In June 2022, Cromwell voters approved constructing a replacement for the current school based on estimates of $58.6 million. Due to price increases, the project required an additional $14 million, which voters approved in a referendum in May 2023.

“The brand-new Cromwell Middle School is a project that truly represents what students and teachers need to thrive in today’s age,” said Sen. Matt Lesser. “Rep. Carpino and I worked to secure a high reimbursement rate from the State, saving Cromwell taxpayers nearly $7 million. Now, I am thrilled to see the project completed and ready for an exciting new school year.”

The middle school construction project aimed to address a number of long range plans and goals including:

-A school with a 491 student capacity

-Improved educational spaces with access to daylight and technology throughout the building

-Remediate all hazardous materials concerns

-New heating, and cooling and piping central systems to improve indoor air quality and allow the school to function year-round

-New electrical systems infrastructure to allow for technology in all instructional spaces

-A complete fire protection system (sprinklers) to provide a safe environment

-Allow for space for all staff and educators to meet and collaborate

-To facilitate the introduction of a STEAM theme and encourage cross-discipline learning

-Improve and continue to incorporate the core secondary instructional spaces: art, music, life and social skills

-An ADA compliant school

-Academic goals for literacy, social studies, mathematics, science, wellness, music, art, and outdoor learning

For more information on the project, please visit this link.