After prolonged debate over how to use Chalk Hill, Monroe has found a use for the former school building. On Sunday, Supt. of Schools James Agostine informed teachers and parents that Sandy Hook Elementary School will hold classes there, beginning this week.

Since the tragic shooting on Friday, Newtown school officials have been working with the Monroe Board of Education, Monroe Public Schools and surrounding towns to try to find a place to teach their students. "We have been working with our First Selectman Steve Vavrek and representatives from Newtown. Newtown will be using Chalk Hill School beginning this week," Agostine wrote in an email to parents and teachers. "It is important that the Sandy Hook students get back to school quickly in an environment that is familiar and safe."

In a telephone interview on Sunday afternoon, Agostine said the date for the first day of school at Chalk Hill has yet to be determined. "They want to get their kids back to school as early as possible," he said. "There is a mountain of work."

Monroe extended the offer allowing Newtown to use its former school building as early as Friday. "With First Selectman Steve Vavrek, we extended the offer on Friday, knowing full well that they would be so overwhelmed, they probably wouldn't be able to respond right way," Agostine said.

Teams representing Monroe, Newtown and the State of Connecticut met Saturday afternoon to assess the Chalk Hill building to determine whether it met Sandy Hook Elementary School's needs, according to Agostine. Monroe Fire Marhsal Bill Davin, the state fire marshal and a representative of the State Building Facilities Unit participated.

Agostine said several of Newtown's elected officials attended the meeting, including its Board of Education chairman Debbie Leidlein and its head of maintenance.

"They had a big team that needed to ascertain if the building was capable of what they need to do," Agostine said. "They figured out pretty quick it was the right thing." On Sunday morning, First Selectman Steve Vavrek signed a memorandum of understanding to move forward, and Newtown and Monroe custodial crews are now working to get the building ready, Agostine said.