By Bill Riccio, Jr.
Voice Editor

The WHHS Class of 2010 could be the loser of a power play between the Board of Education and City Council if a proposed lease agreement for the Stiles School building is not finalized.

At issue is a lease for the former school property to the West Haven Community House for a reported $20,000 per year. The building would be used to house the KinderCare Program, which is an all-day pre-school.

School officials had hammered out an agreement with Community House officials on the understanding the rent would be used to fund the “Blue and White…Up All Night” alcohol-free and drug-free party for the outgoing seniors. Lawyers for both the Board of Education and the Community House worked out the agreement over the summer.

Until last June, Stiles housed the Alternate II program for West Haven High students. The program has since moved back into the McDonough Plaza location.

“This was a no-brainer for us,” said Supt. of Schools Neil Cavallaro this week. “The Community House needed the space, and we thought it would be a great way to finance the ‘Up all Night’ program.”

According to Cavallaro, the Board of Education must keep the building heated whether it is occupied or not, due to damage that could be done to the internal structure. Having it in use was a benefit because the Community House offers a program the school system cannot afford right now.

“When the heat is on, it’s on,” he said. “We can’t offer an all-day Kindergarten program, and the people that are involved are West Haven residents. Winkle Transportation was going to do the bussing at no added cost, and a lunch program could have been offered, giving that program some added funds.”

The only reason the City Council is involved is technical, says the superintendent.

“The Board cannot be a ‘renter.’ The money would have to be collected by the city and then given to the Board of Education. That’s the only reason the City Council is involved in this matter.”

Some council members are accusing the Board of “holding the council hostage” on the matter, said Cavallaro, believing that the rental should be used to pay for the utility bills and ancillary costs.

“We have to heat the building anyway, and this was a way to give the ‘Up all Night’ program the money it needed for the next few years. After Ron Stancil left (he’s now at Haley) some parents worried the program would die,” Cavallaro said.

The fact the council has only a peripheral responsibility in the matter is not lost on the Board of Education, according to the superintendent.

“There was a feeling by members of the board at the last meeting that if the council did not move on the agreement, the board would just give the building to the Community House for $1 a year,” he said. “The fact they didn’t act Monday – the deadline set by some board members – could cancel the whole agreement.”

Cavallaro said he believes there are some members of the council who believe they should be in control of the issue and it’s a matter of politics over what’s best for the city.

“There are some members of the council who think they have to be in control, but there’s nothing to ‘control’ here. It’s a technicality they are involved, and it could hurt the ‘Up all Night’ program,” he said.

After next year, the building reverts to city ownership, but Cavallaro said that doesn’t mean the rental agreement is dead once the board loses the property.

“This agreement can be extended and we can work with the city to cut the grass and do repairs. We do these things all in-house anyway.”

Cavallaro is hopeful the council can be brought on board to approve the arrangement.

“It’s a good deal for all concerned, and the senior class is the beneficiary,” he said.