ConVal will move forward with a scaled-back renovation plan for the Region 14 CTE center following a public hearing at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.
The board approved an additional $27,000 to enable the district’s application with the state Department of Education to move forward.
In December 2024, the ConVal School Board voted to drop a proposal for extensive renovations to the CTE center, parts of the high school and the Lucy Hurlin Theatre. The total cost of the revised project is estimated at $5.5 million, a drastic reduction from a previous proposal under former Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo-Saunders that was estimated at a potential total cost of $44 million.
The new proposal would include only renovations and upgrades to the instructional areas of the CTE center.
No members of the public attended the hearing.
ConVal facilities manager Tim Grossi spoke on behalf of the request for an additional $27,000, noting that the request is a “not to exceed.”
“We have sent in an application to the state to keep our name in the queue for CTE funding, and we are now in a position to move forward if and when funds become available,” Grossi said. “Right now, we are at a 71/29 split with funding. We are in the cycle, and it is our turn for funding. I know the board wishes to maximize the money we could get from the state.”
Grossi said that after reviewing the district’s application, the state had requested more details on the renovation plans.
“The state is requesting more definition on the plans,” Grossi said.
Grossi broke the request into three parts: $8,000 for updated conceptual plans, $14,000 for a community forum and campaign, and $5,000 for “printing and reimbursables.”
Grossi said all numbers came from the project’s architect, Lavallee Brensinger, which will partner with ConVal to host a public forum and create an informational campaign on the project.
“We don’t believe we’re going to need all of that money, especially when we’re talking about the community forum and the campaign, but that is what the architects are requesting at this time,” Grossi said.
School Board Chair Mike Hoyt of Bennington said the most critical part of the request is the $8,000 for more defined plans requested by the New Hampshire Department of Education.