WALLINGFORD, Conn. — The Wallingford Town Council voted 7-2 Tuesday for a resolution opposing the Board of Education's decision to drop 17 classrooms from the proposed high school consolidation project and urging the board to put them back.

The resolution says teachers and school staff pushed for the extra classrooms so that each teacher would have a dedicated room, and that a majority of the Board of Education had supported them at various stages. It calls the later revisions to the project's educational specifications "a significant departure" from priorities set through public input, and asks the board to "reconsider and reverse its decision." Councilors Thomas Laffin and Christina Tatta voted no.

A shifting vote

The school board first added the 17 classrooms and a pool to the plan in July 2025, after pushback over shared classrooms, CT Insider reported. Mayor Vincent Cervoni later urged the board to remove both, saying they would reduce state reimbursement and add about $30 million to the project. The board voted 5-4 in September to restore them, but had to vote again in late October because the earlier vote was on an amendment rather than the motion itself. That time, the classrooms failed 5-4 after one member switched his vote, while the pool stayed in, according to CT Insider.

The plan with shared classrooms and the pool is estimated at $400.79 million, compared with $411.65 million with the extra classrooms, CT Insider reported.

Councilor Melanie Rossacci, who introduced the resolution, said teachers had advocated for dedicated classrooms at two public forums. "To me, this is much more, much more than 17 classrooms," Rossacci said. She also criticized how the board treated Vice Chair Maureen Reed, whom she described as the only current high school educator on the board.

Councilor Craig Fishbein said he agreed with the resolution "in spirit" and that the school board's "flip-flopping" on the votes reflected a significant departure. But he noted the Board of Education is "a creature of the state, not of the town," and worried that a yes vote would be read as support for consolidating into one high school. He proposed amendments, including language making clear the council's position applies only if a consolidated high school is ever approved.

"If we're gonna spend $400 million, and we've discussed this, on a high school, I want the best damn high school you could possibly get," Fishbein said.

Tatta said she understood the spirit of the resolution but disagreed with several of its "whereas" clauses. The resolution passed as amended.

Public frustration

During public comment, speakers questioned how the project's numbers and votes had changed. One said there had been "a $32 million change of heart between one meeting and the next with zero explanation," and estimated the project could near half a billion dollars before interest. Another speaker said a request to hear how Board of Education members had voted before a second vote was denied.

Another resident questioned adding classrooms while enrollment is dropping and asked whether the full picture had been shared with the public outside of Board of Education meetings.