In Case You Missed It: Magnet School Request Denied

Welcome to your Week in Review column — a handy tool in the event your week was packed and you may have missed something in Windsor news.

The week was packed with government meetings, highlighted by the town council's hearing of budget presentations from the town's departments. But one meeting that flew under the radar included action that may prove to be significant to education in town.

The town planning and zoning committee met on Wednesday and heard a request from the Captiol Region Education Council, a public non-profit run by the state that manages a number of magnet and specialized schools throughout Connecticut.

CREC currently runs a magnet school off of Bloomfield Avenue, and was granted temporary permission to use parts of an office building owned by Valassis Direct Mail, Inc.

CREC Deputy Executive Director Don Walsh addressed the committee on Wednesday to receive approval for permanent use of the space prior to the education group's plans to purchase the space from Valassis and develop the grounds into a "state-of-the-art, science-themed magnet school," which would continue to serve students in grades six through twelve.

The committee was not against the permanent establishment of a magnet school in town, but they were opposed to the location.

Located off of Bloomfield Avenue, the committee felt that it was not appropriate, given the amount of automobile traffic in the area.

Walsh told the committee that the location is perfect for the school given that it is a regional school and its proximity to I-91 would allow students and parents to easy access the facility. In addition, CREC would allow use of the facility to the town.

Nevertheless, the committee voted against the request for permanent use of the facility, halting CREC's plans to purchase Valassis' property and develop their school.

The driving force in the committee's decision to deny the request was the idea that if they were going to find a place to put a school in town, the location off of Bloomfield Avenue would not be a location they would consider.

In addition, the school's location would affect businesses in the area, restaurants in particular.

Liquor sales are prohibited to occur withing 400 feet from the facility and would impede restaurants or stores wishing to sell liquor from moving into the area.