By Sarah Opdahl
On Thursday, November 2, New Fairfield’s Board of Education (BOE) learned of potential plans to possibly reallocate resources in New Fairfield Middle School (NFMS). In the wake of the new high school’s construction and the elementary school addition, the middle school absorbed a variety of displaced Central Office parties, including technology staff, Pupil Personnel Services, the school security office, and the facilities staff. Recommended next steps were given at the meeting, including relocating some parties, possibly renovating the space that the middle school inherited in the old high school cafeteria, and passing along plans to the New Fairfield Planning Commission, who are in the midst of gathering data for the Town’s next ten-year plan. Though there was little reference to how renovation will be funded, a potential plan was introduced to conduct a feasibility study.
The space issues at the middle school gradually grew as construction unfolded. In January 2020, the middle school received the security operations center which displaced the steam program classroom. As a result of construction, the Technology Department moved to the lower level of the middle school displacing another classroom, followed by the Pupil Personnel Services Department that moved from the old high school into two classrooms at the middle school. Finally, the Facilities Department moved from 74 Gillotti Road into another NFMS lower level classroom.
NFMS Principal Ms. Karen Gruetzner and Buildings Director Mr. Phil Ross presented the specifics, with Gruetzner noting that the school is experiencing challenges with its chorus, orchestra, steam, and library media programs. Each is being housed in spaces “not typical for what you’d expect for those programs,” the most egregious of which is the strings group that meets in the hallway to play. “We had to get creative,” Gruetzner said, “because we really are bursting at the seams in the middle school and we are lacking those classrooms.” The chorus is meeting in the cafeteria where the breaking down of tables occurs. Steam is housed in the library, which cuts usage of that space for library staff.
Ross pointed out, “The good news is they inherited about 6000 to 7000 square feet in the cafeteria that can be totally renovated and can be modified in a lot of ways. It is going to require us to work together I think in-house and kind of get a game plan of our own.” In addition, there could be reclamation of space in the lower level, with “discussion of the security operation center being relocated to the police department. If that were to happen, that would be big, that gives the middle school back a full classroom that can begin to have a positive effect on perhaps steam or some other program,” Ross said. Regarding the feasibility study, he said, “we would need some help and understanding of what would be the best use of that space.” He said that the next step is to possibly hire an architect.
Superintendent Dr. Ken Craw reported on the latest New England Development Council (NESDEC) enrollment projections for the next ten years, saying, “the headline is we have comparable enrollment expected for next year as to what we have now and continuing to look like it’s going to stay that way as students move through the system.” There can be one to two percent differences in enrollment numbers, but these numbers can typically be relied upon heavily for accuracy. Staff will use these projections in continuing to develop the budget for 2024-2025.
“The good news for New Fairfield is…we have a steady enrollment,” Craw said, explaining that a similar student size results in similar needs across the board. As in the past, there are some smaller classes making their way through elementary school now, which does cause some waves in the way that teams are offered at the middle school level. Kindergarten projections are “probably more volatile than ever,” Craw said, due to new guidelines for enrollment for children born after September 1. “We know that some families are going to take advantage of the waiver process,” Craw explained, which will afford the option to attend kindergarten to 4-year-olds born before December, as was the case in the past.
Director of Guidance Ms. Kim Laughlin walked the BOE through the current iteration of the counseling office, detailing roles and responsibilities for each position. She gave an update on the class of 2023, pointing out that 79% are attending a four-year college or university, 9% are attending a two-year college or university, and 12% are working, have taken a gap year, or joined the military. “The class of 2023 were accepted to over 200 institutions and are attending over 77 different universities. That’s a lot. They did good, their class did good in general,” she said.
College and Career Counseling is calibrating offerings in order to better equip juniors for the application process and help families with an earlier timeline than has been the norm in the past. The school is also collaborating more heavily with colleges to offer in-school visits, increasing the number of visits this year from 50 to over 80 schools. Laughlin noted, there was an uptick in applications submitted to colleges last year, in keeping with wider trends. This fall the largest groups of students attended the University of Connecticut, University of Delaware, and Western Connecticut State University visits. There was a brief discussion about the possibility of holding a trade fair for local students who may want to go straight to work, especially those who did not go to Henry Abbot or Shepaug.
There was a lengthy update on the two new school building projects with Ross and New Fairfield High School Principal Mr. James D’Amico explaining the various punch list items at the high school, including not having a propane odor in the science classrooms and a problem with noise coming from a rooftop heating unit. There are continuing efforts to set up the sound system in the auditorium and there are still some kinks to solve with pressure that is caused by the powerful dust collection system. D’Amico expressed sadness that a small portion of the gym floor was damaged by a leak that has since been fixed. The buckled flooring is fortunately in a corner, not in the playing area.
At the elementary school there remain issues with the ceiling leaking at the entrance on heavy wind and rain days, plus ongoing problems with the playground. Ross noted, “there’s been some discussion about drainage under the playground,” which may be the cause or contributing to the issues.
Athletic Director Mr. Mark Ottusch was pleased to announce that the district was chosen for a special honor called the Michael’s Cup, saying, “this is our first time receiving this award since the year 2000.” Craw explained, when he arrived in the district, he charged Ottusch with increasing the sportsmanship in the athletic program. Happily, he is seeing results. The CIAC website describes the Michael’s Cup as recognizing schools that are “empowering students to take an active role in their school climate and their continued support for community service.” Several student leaders were awarded for their work in Rebel with a Cause, through which they are performing community service and recognition efforts, such as purchasing new whistles and gear for the referees.
In his Chairman’s Report, Mr. Dominic Cipollone remarked on “intellectual atrophy,” likening exercising the brain to any other physical activity. He said not exercising your brain “can lead to a decrease in problem solving abilities, memory, critical thinking skills, and overall mental sharpness.” He recommends that students engage in activities that “stimulate the mind, such as reading, learning new skills, engaging in intellectual discussions, and regularly challenging oneself with new and complex tasks.”
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 7, 7:00 p.m.