Sen. Champagne, Rep. Ackert Applaud State Grant Funding for Tolland’s Birch Grove Primary School; Ground Fill Remediation Cost to be Reimbursed at 100 Percent

Sen. Dan Champagne (R-35) and Rep. Tim Ackert (R-8) applauded passage of the “School Construction Bill” H.B. 7010 that was included on the legislature’s special session agenda last week. Sen. Champagne voted in support of the bill, which authorizes state grant funding for municipalities for certain public school building projects. Tolland’s Birch Grove Primary School project is included in the bill because of the original building’s crumbling foundation caused by the presence of the mineral pyrrhotite in its concrete. The town is now eligible to receive a 100 percent reimbursement from the state for the ground fill remediation portion of construction of the new building, which is approximately $1.8 million. The building is expected to be complete in August 2021.

“I supported this bill, and the inclusion of the Birch Grove Primary School as a grant recipient because this is a big win for taxpayers in Tolland,” said Sen. Champagne. “Through no fault the town, the original Birch Grove was yet another structure with a failing foundation and the full cost to replace it is unsustainable for taxpayers. This state grant allows the town and board of education to not only provide students with the best possible learning environment, but it also enables it to deploy town funds—otherwise spent on construction—in other ways that benefit residents and enhance quality of life in Tolland,” he said.

Rep. Ackert said, “I supported H.B. 7010 to help the taxpayers in the Town of Tolland, so they didn’t have to go it alone in regards to paying for the Birch Grove School, code violation project for remediation of the soil. I look forward to seeing the finished product.”