Printer Friendly Version - Branford Prepares for Student Transition to New Walsh Academic Wing

Branford public school students in grades 5 - 8 will transition into the new academic addition at Walsh Intermediate School in January. This photo from November shows the nearly-completed construction.Pam Johnson/The Sound

After 21 months of construction work to build the new academic wing of Branford's Walsh Intermediate School (WIS), the school's grade 5 – 8 students are being readied to transition into the new building and their new classrooms in January, 2020.

On Nov. 15, Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez notified parents and guardians of the district's plan to phase in students and help them acclimate to the new addition before the anticipated first day of classes get underway in the new school section on Monday, January 6.

Prior to heading off for the district's Dec. 23, 2019 - Jan. 1, 2020 winter break, three half days were planned for WIS students only. The first was on Dec. 4; with two more taking place Wed. Dec. 18 and Thurs. Dec. 19, when WIS students will have early dismissal at 12:40 p.m. both days.

"The purpose of these days is to allow time for staff to prepare their existing instructional area to be moved and establish their new instructional spaces," Hernandez explained in the note.

The WIS December newsletter to parents and guardians also noted that students will be meeting with administrators during the week of Dec. 16 to answer any questions about the new building, and to take a peek at their new classrooms.

When WIS students return to school from their winter break on Thursday, Jan. 2, they'll convene in the old school building through Friday, Jan. 3, going over to the new wing on both days to become oriented with the building as part of the transition process. Students will eat lunch in the new academic wing's dining facility beginning Jan. 2.

Phase I construction to build the new academic wing began in June 2018. To make way for the new academic wing, workers demolished the former Industrial Arts area of the old school and built a new, three-story addition connected to the east side of the remaining WIS building, located at 185 Damascus Road.

Phase I of the project was brought in on time by Fusco Construction (New Haven), working with project team members Antinozzi Associates (Bridgeport) project management company Colliers International (New Haven).

Next, Phase Two renovations, which will incorporate renovation upgrades and changes to the remaining WIS school building, will begin to get underway.

The $88.2 million WIS renovation/expansion project is bonded by the town and anticipated to receive a $30 million state reimbursement.

The entire expansion/renovation project is scheduled to be completed by July 30, 2021.