What You Need To Know Before The Sandy Hook Vote

Polls open 6:00 a.m. Saturday at the Newtown Middle School.

With First Selectman Pat Llodra and Interim Superintendent John Reed's series of open discussions completed, undecided residents have only a handful of hours to make up their minds before polls open. Here's a recap of where we are and how we got here:

• Officials have stressed this point: this is a gift from the State of Connecticut. Newtown will never have to repay the $50 million bonded by the state, Llodra and Reed say.
• The $50 million is only alloted for this project -- the demolition and rebuilding of the school in the same location. If Newtown votes "No," the funds will not be available for any other project. There is "no Plan B," Llodra says, if the vote fails.
• In July, residents approved $750,000 in starter funds for work to begin on the project. To date, oil tanks have been removed, wetlands have been mapped and surveys have been completed.
• Architects and construction managers have been selected. New Haven-based Svigals + Partners will handle architecture, and Milford, Mass.-based Consigli will oversee construction.
• Two properties on Riverside Road may be purchased for demolition. These costs would be included in the $50 million bond.
• A town task force approved the decision to demolish and rebuild the school in May. The task force was made up of officials from the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, Legislative Council and Board of Education.
• Last week, Gov. Dannel Malloy reiterated his support for the project and said the first allocation toward construction would be $3.7 million.
• Llodra and Reed outlined the project for Patch in a two-part interview. Read Part One here, and Part Two here.
• The text of the ballot is online: just read it in the image above, or click here to read it on the town of Newtown's website.
• In addition to a media campaign, the town has released five Q&As outlining the most common questions about the project. Head to the town's website to read all five.
• The town's parent-teacher associations have registered their support for the vote. The Sandy Hook PTA paid for a series of fliers that appeared this week around Newtown business.