Region 15 leaders say new construction — rather than renovation — was selected after feasibility work evaluated both approaches. | Photo Credit: Tecton Architects
- Southbury and Middlebury voters backed Region 15’s $95.6 million 2026-27 operating budget at the May 6 referendum, according to posted unofficial results.
- Voters also approved $224 million in bonding to replace Gainfield and Pomperaug elementary schools; the bond question passed overall even though Middlebury voters opposed it locally.
- District materials say the plan is to build new PK–5 schools on the existing sites, keep students in their current buildings until the replacements are ready, and add dedicated preschool space while upgrading safety, accessibility and traffic circulation.
SOUTHBURY, MIDDLEBURY, Conn. — Voters in Southbury and Middlebury approved Region 15’s $95.6 million operating budget for fiscal 2026-27 and authorized $224 million in school construction bonding to replace the district’s two oldest elementary buildings, according to referendum results released after the May 6 vote.
The bond would support replacement buildings for Gainfield Elementary School and Pomperaug Elementary School, with the district planning to pursue state school construction grants that could significantly reduce the local share of eligible project costs.
Unofficial results posted by the Town of Southbury show the Region 15 school budget passed 2,679-1,618 overall (Southbury: 2,048-1,059; Middlebury: 631-559). The construction financing question passed 2,474-1,820 overall, with Southbury approving 1,935-1,172 and Middlebury voting against the question 539-648, according to the Town of Southbury’s posted results.
The Stamford Advocate reported the adopted budget totals $95.6 million, a $4.86 million (5.4%) increase over the current $90.78 million plan. The same report said the $224 million bond package would fund replacement schools on each existing site, with plans calling for larger buildings designed to serve about 550 students per school and include prekindergarten space, according to an article from the Stamford Advocate.
District project materials describe Gainfield’s original sections as dating to 1941 and Pomperaug opening in 1967, noting both facilities have aging infrastructure and systems nearing the end of their useful life. “many of our systems and spaces are significantly aged, flawed, functioning unreliably, or become obsolete,” according to the facilities project website.
Region 15’s facilities materials say new construction — rather than renovation — was selected after feasibility work evaluated both approaches. The FAQ says early estimates compared roughly $80 million for renovation to about $86 million for new construction, but renovation would add significant costs and complications, including temporary swing space estimated at about $12 million and a longer timeline that could increase escalation costs, according to the facilities project FAQ.
On design and operations, the district says replacement buildings would address code and safety upgrades that older schools are exempt from because of their age, and improve circulation and traffic safety. The “Key Project Features” page says the new layouts would funnel visitors from the main entrance to the front office for screening and bring the schools up to current fire and energy codes (including sprinklers and updated HVAC), while expanding parking and dedicated bus lanes, according to the facilities project website.
Project scope materials also cite improved traffic circulation at both campuses, including altered traffic patterns and a new access road intended to reduce congestion near Main Street and Poverty Road in Southbury. Region 15 further says the proposal is designed to keep schools operating throughout construction by allowing the district to occupy the existing buildings until the new schools are complete and ready for occupancy, according to the facilities project website.
Programming elements highlighted by the district include adding dedicated preschool classrooms and replacing makeshift instructional spaces (such as interventions held in closets or hallways) with purpose-built rooms and small-group areas, according to the facilities project website.
In its March 30 Board of Education newsletter, Region 15 said it sought voter approval in May to submit a school construction grant application by the state’s June 30 deadline. The newsletter also estimated total construction costs at about $224 million and anticipated roughly 64.2% reimbursement of eligible costs under current assumptions, with a projected $80 million to $90 million local borrowing need, according to a newsletter posted by Pomperaug Regional School District 15.
Before the May 6 vote, Region 15 said the Connecticut General Assembly approved a space waiver intended to support the district’s eligibility for its expected reimbursement rate while allowing some flexibility in shared spaces. “This legislation allows us to thoughtfully plan school spaces that meet student needs while also providing areas that can serve the wider community,” according to a post from Region 15 Schools.
As the district moves toward a state funding application, Superintendent Joshua Smith described near-term steps, including governance and procurement work. “We will also begin the work of identifying building committees, grant application approvals and releasing a request for project proposals that will select an architectural firm for the design phase of the project,” according to an article from the Stamford Advocate.
The Stamford Advocate reported Smith hopes construction will begin in 2028 and that the new schools could be completed by 2030, subject to state grant approvals and other preconstruction steps, according to an article from the Stamford Advocate.
This article is based on reporting originally published by the Stamford Advocate, official materials posted by the Town of Southbury and Pomperaug Regional School District 15, and Region 15’s facilities project website in 2026. (Region 15)