Facilities Study completed by Team Design (now Harriman)

Educational Specifications for a new Griffin Memorial School being explored at the time. Educational Specifications were developed with Harriman as consultant.

Performed by Harriman.

Performed by Harriman and JCN.

A referendum asked voters whether they supported replacing Griffin Memorial School with a new Pre-K-5th Grade School. The referendum did not pass.

At the March 2024 election, Warrant Article 1 (building a new school to replace GMS) did not pass. 

Since the concerns at GMS that led to Warrant Article 1 being proposed still remained, a new facilities improvement committee was formed and tasked with determining how the community would like to proceed.  

The committee is made up of a diverse mix of community residents working alongside representatives from the School Board, Budget Committee, Board of Selectmen, and School Personnel. 

The Mission of the Facilities Improvement Committee is to advise the Litchfield School Board in decisions related to upkeep, maintenance and improvement of Litchfield School District Properties, Sites, and Facilities. This committee commits to soliciting opinions and expertise from all individuals who may guide the Town of Litchfield in best providing the necessary physical plant for the education of our students.

The Facilities Improvement Committee will foster a collaborative space and opportunity to address the upkeep, maintenance, and improvement of all Litchfield School District facilities. Through a fact based discovery process, the committee will advise the school board about necessary actions while considering the impacts of all stakeholders necessary and involved.

As a subcommittee of the Litchfield School Board, any motion or vote of the Facilities Improvement Committee is to act as advisory for consideration by the elected Litchfield School Board. 

The Facilities Improvement Committee (FIC) formed a survey to aid in the group’s mission of providing the best physical plant for the education of Litchfield students. A primary use of the survey is to help the committee gain a more focused direction, driven by the residents, for the future of Griffin Memorial School.

The survey was open from September 2024 to December 6, 2024. 870 total responses were received. 853 responses were deemed usable by the FIC.

Survey results are available on the Data & Documents page of the website.

On-Site Insight performed Capital Needs Assessments for Griffin Memorial School, Litchfield Middle School, and Campbell High School. Their reports can be found on the Data & Documents page.

The FIC presented the findings of their Needs Assessment to the School Board, including the two options determined to move forward. It was determined that a consultant should be brought on via an RFP process by mid-October to target a March 2026 referendum.

The two options are to:

Explore renovations and/or additions to Griffin Memorial School for Grades PK-4.

OR

Explore renovations and/or additions at Griffin Memorial School & Campbell High School that results in reconfiguration of grade spans at all three schools.

Litchfield School District issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting preconstruction services for the renovation of (and possible addition to) one or more Litchfield Schools.

The RFP was issued May 22, 2025, with proposals due July 3, 2025.

Harriman was brought on as the Architecture/Engineering firm to oversee the project. Together, with the Building Advisory Committee, the FIC, school stakeholders, and community members, we will be working to evaluate options and identify a community-supported facilities solution to address the needs of Litchfield’s schools.