DAS approves HVAC grant commitments for Brooklyn Elementary and Middle schools

Michele Raynor, a Brooklyn Public Schools staff member, told the Special Building Committee on July 22, 2026, that the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) approved HVAC grant applications for Brooklyn Elementary School and Brooklyn Middle School and issued grant commitment letters allowing the committee to begin preparations for the next project phase.

Raynor told members the grant commitment letters are not the same as written DAS approval of construction plans. She said the committee must secure DAS plan approval of final plans and specifications before advertising the project for bids and that a DAS plan-review meeting was scheduled for July 27, 2026, to discuss plan review and next steps.

Committee members noted that receiving the grant commitment letters is a significant milestone but emphasized that winning the grant funding does not remove the requirement that DAS review and sign off on final plans in writing. The committee agreed to review revised plans internally before submitting them to DAS so the district can avoid delays in the bid process.

The committee’s next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.; staff said they will request revised plans from the district’s architect in advance of that meeting so members have time to review materials before the DAS plan review.