Board of Education Approves Addition to Hanover Elementary

The Meriden Board of Education tonight unanimously approved plans to add a new wing to Hanover Elementary School for an all-day kindergarten program. The project will cost an estimated $7,247,500. The state will reimburse the city for more than 84 percent of those expenses, leaving taxpayers will a bill of just over $1 million.

A presentation by School Building Committee liaison John Lineen outlined plans for the new addition on the west side of the building. The addition of a separate wing connected to the school by a corridor will add 13,200 square feet and eight classrooms to the south-end school.

The space will serve 160 to 180 kindergarten students. Because one existing Hanover classroom will be eliminated to make room for office and storage space, the school will gain a total of seven classrooms.

"Construction is expected to begin in June," said school board member Kevin Scarpati. The first group of all-day kindergartners could begin using the new space as early as September of 2012, he added.

Expansion plans now go to the state board of education for approval before the project goes out to bid. Construction will cost about $6,302,000. Furniture, classroom equipment such as smart boards, and other costs will add another $945,500 to the total price of the project.