Back in mid-March of this year, Wilton High School administrators cited safety and security when they made a policy change keeping all exterior doors locked and preventing students from going outside–even thought students had previously gone outside to cross Kristine Lilly Way in order to get to the building that houses the science wing, library and Clune Auditorium.
The policy change inspired a negative response from many students and parents, who said that not only was the policy change implemented with little communication, but that the only indoor access route–the second-story walkway that bridges the roadway between the buildings–was too small to adequately handle the student traffic between classes. Moreover, some students and parents pointed to the ability for younger students at the three other district schools to go outside for recess, and yet the high schoolers were being told they had to stay indoors to keep them safe.
Now, there may be a happy compromise that has been reached between students and administrators. The courtyard behind the school outside the cafeteria has been opened to students, and administrators are working closely with WHS student government to improve the area.
“The idea of doing something behind the school in a space that’s safe and generally unused was intriguing to us,” says Endy Perry, a member of the student government executive board. Originally, students were only supposed to use the outdoor space for lunch periods, sit down, eat lunch. Now, the administration has been open to the idea of having the area open to students all day–they can read and hang out outside in addition to using the space as a meeting place for lunch. The space is only accessible through the cafeteria, so according to Perry, school officials can keep an eye on students leaving and coming back in.
The first step was putting a handful of tables from the cafeteria outside.
“When we learned that the policy would be changed, we purchased 10 new picnic tables that are currently outside. That was something we worked with the administration to do,” Perry says, explaining that the cost outlay was made by the student government.
Now, students are hoping to raise additional funds to help improve the space even more.
“Right now the tables are just on grass, but we are working with the town to put in an area of cement or slate, just so we have a flat surface to put the tables on. Then the grass area could be devoted just to hanging out and playing.”
While Perry says the administration contributed by purchasing a number of frisbees and footballs, the students hope to raise the money enough money to pay for the cement cover where they can put the tables.
They’ve organized a silent auction fundraiser and they’ve reached out to local businesses for help. The silent auction will coincide with the WHS spring musical, Camelot, which runs May 14-16 at the Clune auditorium. The students will have tables set up in the Zellner gallery at the auditorium and they hope that community members will pitch in by bidding on items. Bid items include gift cards, paintings, goods and services from local businesses and more.
“Hopefully we will raise enough money. The space we can make is dependent on how much we raise. The minimum is $2,000 , but the hope is to do more than that so we can expand even more.”
Perry and his peers on student government hope to get the word out about the fundraiser, and they’re excited to involve the wider community in a high school program like this.
“We hope we have support from the community and from anyone who wants to help. We’re working hard to coordinate with Wilton businesses, and we hope to raise awareness as well as additional sales,” he says.
As for whether the congestion in the walkway bridge has improved, Perry has some positive news to report.
“At this point that seems to have worked itself out. The time the policy was implemented was difficult for everyone, because there was a World Language Festival going on at the time, and there were some times when every student would be crossing the bridge to go to the auditorium for an assembly just about every day. But at this point, there hasn’t been any issue, and the students have adapted.”
He also says that the administration and students are working well together now. Because the back area has become so popular, the administration has discussed the purchase of 10 more picnic tables, as well as expanding the space. Perry sees that as a positive sign.
“I think we all understand–hopefully most of us do–this was a decision to adhere to the state guidelines. We understand this was something they had to do, and they wanted us to be able to go outside, to get fresh air. Now we have an opportunity to have access to a convenient area, one that may be even better than what we had before. Students used to sit on stone benches outside in the front of the school. I think that the courtyard could even be something better.”
UPDATE May 14: When the article was originally published, student organizers of the fundraiser had planned to offer graduation seats as an auction item. That plan has changed and the article has been amended to reflect the updated plan.