Most of us are familiar with two key numbers at Saxe—1,200 capacity, 1,329 current enrollment.
That is only a snapshot of this dire situation.
The reality is that when Saxe was renovated over 15 years ago, capacity and enrollment were both 1,200, but that 1,200 was viewed as a short-term spike, and the building was designed to optimally educate an expected average of 1,050 kids.
Over the past 15 years, Saxe administrators have worked creatively and patiently to make a building designed for 1,050 students function for 1,200, then 1,250, then 1,275—and now 1,329 students.
In this process, Saxe administrators have had to compromise as many as 27 classroom spaces: some classes have much less room than they should for their size/activity (i.e the 8th-grade science class for which the state recommends 950 square feet, in a 585 square-foot classroom), and some classes take place in non-classroom spaces (former faculty lounge, storage areas, alcoves, hallways). And yes—you read that correctly—our children are being taught in hallways.
As fiscally conservative town residents—both with professional financial backgrounds—we certainly don’t advocate casual spending of our town’s money. The proposed project will cost $18.6 million ($16.2 million net of grants expected upon completion), bonded for 20 years—costing the average New Canaan household $170 per year ($148 with grants).
The long-term cost of not expanding Saxe is far-reaching and likely much greater. Failure to invest in our growing enrollment will inevitably compromise the quality of education in New Canaan, and depress our property values, with a similarly negative effect on our town’s economy. (We can both attest to how much a family of 5 or 6 spends—all day, every day—on meals, cleats, minivan tune-ups, and voice lessons in New Canaan!). The bottom line: it is expensive to educate children to New Canaan’s lofty standards. However, not doing so is far more expensive.
We know that it can be frustrating for those town residents who don’t have school-aged children to see a significant portion of their tax dollars spent to educate our town’s youth. However, a well-educated, engaged, and thoughtful youth community is an enormous asset to our town. SLOBS participants volunteer their time helping seniors navigate cell phone technology, National Charity League participants provide landscaping at the Schoolhouse Apartments, and Girl Scout troops hold food drives for our town Food Pantry. Parents in our town and our schools volunteer energetically, and their children follow this excellent example. As parents, we ask that residents without school-age children invest in ours; in return, please know that we expect and demand of our children that they give of themselves to our community.
Together we have made New Canaan a wonderful community and a desirable town, and as a result, more and more families are moving here. Please support the Saxe Middle School expansion so that our community will thrive for decades to come.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie Owsley & Jennifer Murphy
Saxe PTC Co-Presidents