Martha Marx

State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) today welcomed the news that a $95.7 million plan to develop the Daniels Avenue school site in Waterford and turn it into a pre-kindergarten through second-grade program has made the state’s 2024 School Building Project Priority List and will now be reviewed by the legislature’s Education and Finance Committees for further consideration.

The Waterford school project was approved last week by the School Construction Project Priority List Review Committee. The project would see LEARN purchase the site and turn it into a pre-k through second grade program through alteration. The building, once complete, would serve 574 students with infant/toddler, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first and second grade rooms. Work would further include an occupational/physical therapy room, special education classroom, gymnasium, library/media center, cafeteria, family resource center and more, with technology installations providing students and faculty with the most up-to-date materials and systems.

The project is expected to cost $95.7 million, of which the state is scheduled to cover 80%, or $76,589,325.

“This is incredible news for families in Waterford and the surrounding area, and we come one step closer to this work becoming a reality,” said Sen. Marx. “In fact, I myself went to this school when it was Southwest Elementary and have so many happy memories there; I’m thrilled that it will continue to enrich the lives of children in the 20^th Senate District. I’m planning to continue this work with my colleagues however and wherever possible to make sure this project comes into fruition and gives students throughout our region access to valuable early education with the best possible resources to support their development and foster their growth.”

The project would need to meet approval by the General Assembly before final approval. The 2024 legislative session begins February 7 and adjourns on May 8.