Old Greenwich School Project Needs More Money and Needs it Fast

The Greenwich Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is a massive 235-member body that makes laws and approves spending decisions for the town. Meetings are scheduled well in advance, typically mid-month on a Monday. Special meetings are rare. Yet, a special meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 4. What's the emergency? The Old Greenwich School (OGS) phased-occupied renovation needs more money and it needs the money fast.

The Rising Price of Renovation. The RTM is being asked to approve an additional $8,177,174 for OGS. When added to the existing $47.1 million budget, the total project cost balloons to $55.8 million. The original vision for OGS was $20 million to focus on critical fixes (ADA compliance and chronic flooding), then it became a $43 million phased-occupied renovation with a May 2025 start date, and now it is a $55.8 million renovation with a delayed April 2026 start date. Critically, the renovation still does not include new windows or external building work—items that will surely drive the cost even higher. Furthermore, the building is being sized to accommodate 430-440 students, when current enrollment is roughly 400. As the costs keep rising, the argument for a brand-new appropriately-sized building looks better every day. See prior story "No Longer On Time or On Budget" here.

Rushed through the RTM. There may be valid reasons for this funding emergency, including surprising cost overruns, miscalculated contingencies, and a desperate need to sign a contract now to secure the April 2026 start date. Remember, they already hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on April 23, 2025. However, bypassing the standard deliberative process of the RTM to call a special meeting for just this purpose suggests a project that is being rushed through without the careful consideration that a massive taxpayer investment deserves.

Between the Lines: Perhaps it's time to regroup and go back to the drawing board on this important project.

Story here