The state is financing almost all of the cost of multiple school projects in Hartford, but investigators have zeroed in on the $150 million overhaul of Bulkeley High School on the city’s southside, according to public records and interviews with more than a half dozen people familiar with the project.In particular, the investigators appear interested in how Konstantinos Diamantis, the politically-influential former director of the state school financing program, persuaded Hartford to hire a second consultant and how that consultant, Construction Advocacy Professionals, was awarded the contract even though two competitors submitted lower bids.
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It began with a column in the Courant revealing a patronage appointment for the daughter of influential state budget officer Konstantinos Diamantis. Then, last month news broke that a federal grand jury is investigating three costly state spending programs. Now, the emerging scandal threatens to become political ammunition as Gov. Ned Lamont heads into a re-election campaign.
Superintendent of Schools Walter Willet said that Diamantis “routinely emphasized there would be detrimental effects to the project if Tolland chose contractors or consultants other than” those he chose.