Thornton: Herbst 'Embarrasses' Trumbull over Magnet School

Town Council Minority Leader Mary Beth Thornton, D-2, wants First Selectman Tim Herbst to take a position on the proposed $126 million magnet school, the state's most expensive school to date.

"No one knows where Tim Herbst stands on this project," a press release from the Democratic Town Committee states.

"Astonishingly, this is one of the biggest education projects in our region in the last 20 years, and we don’t know where our first selectman stands,” Thornton said. “He should be leading the way."

The school would be built in Fairchild Memorial Park near Quarry and Old Town roads and would teach natural science, aerospace and information technology to 500 students each. It would also use green technology.

Thornton added it also is important to consider the broader issues surrounding the proposal.

“This school is ahead of the wave of school reform that will be required by the state in 2018,” she said. “We’re risking giving up 150 opportunities for Trumbull children to be educated in a highly competitive atmosphere, concentrating on science and technology, at no cost to the town.

"Financially, this will save Trumbull per pupil cost for every student that attends and the state will also subsidize transportation at $1,300 per pupil," she said.

Herbst said recent Connecticut Post newspaper articles "give the impression we're trying to engage in a shakedown." 

Acting Commissioner George A. Coleman of the state Education Department "asked me to write that letter," he added.

He said it was suggested he write the letter to address town concerns because $12 million remained of $15 million in acquisition funding. 

"There are political agendas at play," Herbst said.

Herbst, a republican who is running for re-election, said Andrew McDonald, general counsel to Gov. Dannel Malloy, has not met with him yet on the matter.

"You start by talking to people before you trash them in the newspaper," he said.

He said radio and road upgrades are necessary when talking about a magnet school that would serve seven communities, including 150 Trumbull students. Seventy percent of its 1,500 students would come from Bridgeport.

Thornton charged Herbst with politicizing the issue. 

“The Trumbull Town Council was not briefed on the municipal agreement that came before the Legislation and Administration Committee,” she said. “And the agreement was held in committee due to a lack of information, even as that same day the attorney that represents the project for Bridgeport was in Mr. Herbst’s office discussing it. 

"This is not about which children benefit, it is about an opportunity for our entire region, and regrettably, the first selectman is playing with that opportunity. It’s not his privilege or his place to decide this,” she added.

William Magnotta, a consultant to the state on magnet school projects, has said it's ultimately Bridgeport's decision even though Trumbull's Planning and Zoning Commission must approve its placement in the park. If the school fails in Trumbull, Bridgeport can look for another site, but risks changes in the construction funding the longer the approval process takes.

Radio upgrades are not included in the construction costs, which the state would reimburse, Magnotta said.

And any Trumbull approval would likely come with numerous conditions. The zoning panel's deadline is in May, 65 days after an extension was approved in February.

Meanwhile, the Town Council is reviewing a proposed  emergency services agreement, in which Bridgeport would handle all emergency services at the school. Bridgeport would also build a water pipe to serve the school that portion of Trumbull for $1 million.

A large wrinkle is the town's search for another sewage treatment option. Its current contract with Bridgeport's treatment facility expires in June 2012. One option is to build a facility.

Herbst said the most logical site is 100-300 yards away from the school site, removing the possibility putting the school there.

In any case, several park neighbors want the park untouched while educators, parents and the region's construction workers support the school.