WOODSTOCK — Windsor Central Unified Union School District voters will be asked at this year’s district meeting to approve $1 million to upgrade the heating system at Woodstock Union Middle High School.
The school’s heating system, which dates back to the 1950s, has been in a state of disrepair for decades. The 2021 school year saw upwards of $150,000 in HVAC repairs, and several classrooms fell out of commission.
If voters in the district — which includes the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading and Woodstock — approve the spending, the steam heating system would be upgraded to a forced hot water heating system.
The ask from the school district to voters comes amidst broader planning for a large renovation of the school, focused on replacing crumbling infrastructure with more energy efficient alternatives. The steam-heating system at Woodstock Union, which runs on oil, contributes to the 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide emitted each year from the current building.
The district concluded a two-year study of the building’s conditions in 2019 by recommending total renovation. The approval of $1.65 million for design, bidding and permitting for the renovation will also be on the ballot.
An informational meeting on the ballot articles is scheduled for Thursday, March 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the Woodstock Union Middle and High School Library. The meeting can also be accessed virtually at the link on the meeting warning.
Voting for this year’s district meeting will then take place by Australian ballot on March 7.
Frances Mize is a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at fmize@vnews.com or 603-727-3242.