Group Supporting a Magnet School on old Sports Plex Land and Other Parcels

A bi-partisan coalition is lending its support for a magnet school in town and its members say they know just the place to put it.

On one of the most talked about parcels in Vernon.

And a few others as well.

On Monday, Deputy Mayor Brian Motola, a Republican and active Democrat and former Planning and Zoning Commission member Lance Chernack addressed the Board of Education to pitch what they called a  "bio-tech, bio-med" magnet school that could team up with institutions like Rockville General Hospital, Goodwin College and the University of Connecticut.

Democratic Town Council member Thomas DiDio has also thrown his support toward the concept. Chernack said Karl Prewo, a member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering and the chairman of its Economic Development Technical Board, was instrumental in coming up with the concept.

"This would allow us to lead versus being behind," Chernack told the school board. "I would love to see the Board of Education be 100 per cent behind this."

Chernack volunteered to help organize an exploratory committee to study the possibilities.

Motola said he knew a perfect spot for a magnet school - the "Home Depot" parcel on Reservoir Road.

It is the old Sports Plex land off exit 67 on Interstate-84. If the land can accommodate a big-box development, why not a magnet school, Motola reasoned. After years of legal wrangling, the last of the intervenors for the parcel were recently dismissed by an appeals court, paving the way for a possible large footprint development application. 

"We do have the available land and it is right off the highway," Motola said. "The size of the school I don't know, but I am willing to work on it.  This would give us another school to bring people into Vernon besides the vo-ag school. A lot of us think of a big box there, but this is a good use."

Rockville High School has a regional vocational-agricultural program.

Added Chernack, "The time is right … it's a matter of us getting out and doing it."

Motola said on Tuesday there are five usable parcels in all identified by Prewo, including land off exit 65 and a downtown lot.

Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway said a magnet school requires a sizable minority population, but added towns like Windham and East Hartford could be interested in a partnership. She said it is worth keeping the discussion going.