By Zara Serrano
The front of Branford High School has had a different look recently, with a brand new sign sitting on the front lawn.
Several staff, students, and parents have noticed the sign with many wondering why the decision to install a sign was made.
The Buzz spoke to Brendan Leddy, the Facilities Director for the district, about the newly-installed sign.
According to Leddy, it was added to increase appeal, replacing the old, worn out sign which was tearing and rotting away.
Another reason, he cited, was that the new sign creates a “more welcoming environment” for the visitors, faculty, and students.
The new sign, a bright red rectangle with the words “Branford High School” imprinted, sits atop the thick round column of concrete.
Along with the new sign, other renovations have been made throughout the building; these changes more minute, however, compared to the sign.
Flower pots were recently placed at the entrances to the buildings and a new concrete sidewalk replaced the aging one near the front entrance over the summer.
The sidewalks have also been made more accessible, as to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“These smaller projects are part of the district’s larger Facilities Master Plan, which focuses on ongoing facility improvements throughout Branford Public Schools,” Leddy explained.
“Final touches to the [sign] project will be completed in the spring, including repairs to the concrete column and a finished surface treatment,” he concluded.
In October of 2025, the town approved an emergency funding request of $11.5 million, mostly to repair the failing roof and HVAC system at High School. The funding measure also includes money for other, smaller improvements to the building.
Schools across the country spend billions of dollars a year on facility modifications. According to the U.S Government Accountability Office, approximately 54% of US schools continue to be in need of upgrades to building systems and school features. 41% of schools need to fix heating, HVAC, and ventilation systems, including BHS.
The new sign in front of BHS is just the beginning of a broader push for renovations in the district, with wide scale improvements coming to BHS over the summer per the Facilities Master Plan.
