Castle Offers Short-Term Pandemic Solution For Hamden Hall

In order to impose greater social distancing on campus, Hamden Hall will use its recently acquired property at 20 Davis St. to provide new classroom space for high school students come fall.

Almost exactly a year ago, on June 11, 2019, the Hamden Planning and Zoning Commission approved Hamden Hall’s application to convert the ​“castle-like structure,” which was built in 1906, and its surrounding open space from office use into an elementary school. 

This week the commission approved a tweak that allows for a shorter-term use of the building to help keep kids safe and socially distant during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Leading into the spring, everything was going wonderfully,” said Joe Porto, the attorney representing Hamden Hall. ​“The school was working towards getting the funding, and then Covid hit.”

Construction on the property was supposed to begin around this summer, once funding was secured. The school’s youngest students would occupy the ground floor, second and third-graders would learn on the second floor, and fourth and fifth-graders would take the top floor. 

The plan was to build two playing fields and a paved outdoor classroom on the site. Remodeling would take place within the building in order to maximize sunlight.

When the pandemic hit, the school’s leaders had to figure out how to adjust to new health guidelines. They decided to apply for a minor amendment regarding the use of 20 Davis St. The old mansion, they believed, would be best used for additional classroom space in its current condition. Renovations could resume post-pandemic.

There will be five classrooms created within the building: three on the first floor and two on the second floor. ​“This will allow for seating at a minimum of six feet apart from one’s neighbor,” Porto said.

The additional space will decrease overall classroom density for the school’s entire student body, which is composed of 560 students from pre-school through 12th grade.

Lower school and middle school students will stay put at Hamden Hall’s main campus on Whitney Avenue. Secondary school students will travel back and forth between Whitney and Davis.

There will be no drop-off or parking at the Davis Street property. Students will meet at Whitney Avenue and cross over to Davis Street with a crossing guard, who will be stationed at the school from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Porto pointed out that school starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m., so the crossing guard will offer support for an extra half hour on either side of the academic day. ​“Just in case someone is, though I never was, early,” Porto said.

Commissioner Robert Roscow commented on the potential dangers of having school children cross the four lane road everyday. ​“People think it’s a formula 1 track!” he exclaimed.

Another Commission member, Ted Stevens, worried about whether high schoolers would adhere to the crossing rules laid out by the school. ​“Thinking back to when I was in high school, I would’ve taken the most direct route thinking that I don’t need crossing guards,” he said.

“Right, the path of least resistance,” Porto responded. ​“I will admit: the students do possess free will.”

Hamden Hall headmaster, Robert Izzo, clarified that the school has cameras located throughout the school’s parking lot. ​“We can identify the students that are violating the rules,” he said.

“There’s also a lot of adult supervision at Hamden Hall. If we see a student or students doing something unsafe, it’s a small school: we know who they are and can call them out. We can have a conversation with them and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“We’re fortunate that most of our students just don’t break the rules,” he added.

Commissioner Michele Mastropetre suggested that each student going between campuses be given a map and lectured about safe practices during an assembly.

“Just to reinforce the importance of safety, so we all feel better about this,” she said. ​“This won’t be an official condition of the amendment.”

“If Hamden Hall is to reopen this fall, it’s essential to minimize the health risks to the schoolchildren, their teachers and other staff, as well as their families, not to mention the general public,” said Town Planner Dan Kops. At a meeting Tuesday, the commission unanimously agreed that the temporary use of 20 Davis St. would be a positive step in that direction.

The success of the application might serve as some rare good news for the affected students and the Hamden Hall community. As Commissioner Michelle Mastropetre put it, ​“Kids will want to go to school in a castle, right?”

Porto did specify that classes would not be held in the building’s turrets.

The application is a temporary one, meaning that the school will have to apply for an extension next July if they decide to continue using the Davis Street property for secondary school students.

“I hope we won’t still be in this situation in a year’s time,” Porto said. ​“But the goal is to keep students as safe as possible, not only from Covid-19, but from everything!”