Manchester City Schools Wants $4M In Upgrades

Manchester City Schools Director Dr. Prater Powell went before the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen during a work session. He told the board about a plan for school upgrades that could cost approximately $4 million.
Powell presented a plan that would upgrade College Street Elementary School and Westwood Middle School.
Powell told the board what they needed first were the food-service area at College Street and potential overcrowding at Westwood Middle School fixed. Every corner, every space is being utilized,” Powell told the board.
The proposed renovations and expansions would total $2.4 million at Westwood Middle School and $1.2 million at College Street.
Alderman Cheryl Swan, who chairs the Manchester Finance Committee, talked about the city school system’s reserve fund saying it could help pay for some of the costs.
Powell told Swan $3 million is currently available in reserves, but the system is required to keep three percent of its operating budget in reserves.
Funding will be discussed during the February meeting of the Finance Committee.