Supply-Chain Issues Delay Opening of Connecticut Elementary School

Brookfield Public Schools in Brookfield, Conn., recently announced that the move-in date for its new elementary school has been delayed following a series of supply-chain issues, according to local news. Candlewood Lake Elementary, originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2022, will instead be finished in late May or early June of 2023, and staff and students will move into the facility in time for the fall 2023 semester. The new school measures in at 139,000 square feet and has an estimated $78.1-million budget, local news reports.

The district previously announced that due to delays in the availability of flooring materials, the school’s opening would have to be pushed off. In a Dec. 15 letter to parents and the larger school community posted on the district website, school leadership announced the new move-in date—as well as a shift in the move-in plan. Originally, students and staff would have phased into the new building during the spring 2023 semester. Now, the entire PreK–5 community will start the 2023–24 academic year together in the same place.

The new school will have the capacity for more than 1,000 students and 200 teachers and staff.

The school’s originally scheduled flooring provider filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year. Municipal Building Committee chair Paul Checco said that the loss of this supplier created a “ripple effect” in the market as other flooring manufacturers experienced a rise in demand. The project also experienced a previous delay of three to four months in Nov. 2021 related to the delivery of roofing materials.

“The good news is we are able to stay on the original plan that the entire Pre-K through Fifth Grade will be in the new school together to start the 2023–2024 school year on September 5th, right after Labor Day,” said the letter. “This provides us with the opportunity to become one school community together, at the same time, as originally envisioned when CLES opens its doors.”

The district is partnering with construction firm O&G.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • T&T Construction Management Group Completes Pasco High School Expansion

    Pasco High School in Dade City, Fla., recently announced that it has completed an expansion project in partnership with T&T Construction Management Group, Inc., Harvard Jolly Architecture, and Williams Company.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • A university

    Breaking Higher Education's Billion-Dollar Backlog Problem

    Strategic mechanical system design can transform campus maintenance backlogs. Here's how.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

Digital Edition