Trumbull BOE: 'Disappointed' at Progress in THS Renovations

The school district is focusing on technology as Trumbull High School renovations are projected to wrap up as late as June 2013, with the conclusion of punch list items.

School officials made the criticism before Hurricane Sandy hit, which closed school for a week.

"Technology will definitely be a focal point," said Schools Supt. Ralph Iassogna. The district is working to obtain refurbished computers from IBM, the former employer of a current school district worker.

But some THS work, especially technology setup, is being done by staff rather than contractors.

"They are doing the work of contractors and that should not occur," said School Board Vice Chairwoman Deborah Herbst.

Recent flooding has also knocked out Internet to some of the school's labs. Repairs have been made but service is sporadic at times.

"We have reached a point where we've got to move forward in an organizaed fashion," Iassogna said.

School officials said previous work has been focused in different areas, such as the senior lounge and the auditorium. Now the entire school needs to be completed.

"They've got to tie it together. The magnitude of the renovation is the whole building," Iassogna said.

In the end, the school board voted to tell the building committee:

"The BOE is disappointed with the lack of progress in completing essential construction activities at THS, the lack of organization and diligence by the design team and construction manager and the failure of the architect and construction manager to adequately mitigate the disruption of school operations."

At the Building Committee's recent meeting, District Technology Director Jeff Hackett told the committee:

• There is no WiFi in the building
• Video on Demand is not purchased yet
• Laptops have not been purchased
• Channel 17 is not on the air yet.

Hackett said Charter is scheduling the connection to a single cable and hasn't proceed for reasons he does not know. But, he added, AT&T Uverse wiring is set up.

Hackett also noted that 90 percent of the infrastructure and all staff computers are installed, as are 85 of 97 Smartboards. The district has the remaining 12.