NHS Winter Guard Fights For Space

By Larissa Lytwyn

While not a school-sponsored activity, Newtown High School’s Color Guard has enjoyed a largely successful ten-year history.

With Newtown’s burgeoning population growth, however, the Parks and Recreation Department has found accommodating the group increasingly difficult as the winter guard competes with dozens of school and community interests for local facilities.

“The winter guard wants to practice in Reed Intermediate’s cafetorium because of its high ceilings,” explained Parks and Recreation supervisor Roseann Reggiano. “They want to practice four nights a week.”

Reed’s still-pending certification of occupancy due to delays in completing Haynes Construction’s punch list, however, has limited facility use for community organizations. The school currently has a temporary certification of occupancy, which allows the school itself to operate.

In the meantime, said Ms Reggiano, the group, which will begin practices in mid-December, is slated to use one of Newtown Middle School’s two gyms one evening a week.

The families of participating members currently fund color guard. The group’s lack of space was introduced “for the first time,” according to Assistant Superintendent of Schools Alice Jackson, during the school board’s November 5 meeting. Two parents, including Larry Whippie, expressed concern over the Parks and Recreation Department’s inability to provide an appropriate venue for the group.

Ms Reggiano explained that groups involving school members but not directly school-funded are still referred to school administration. But Ms Jackson maintains that she was not made aware of any lack of space until the morning of the November 5.

“There will be a meeting between the administration and the color guard about possibly becoming a school activity,” she said. She noted, however, that the district’s limited budget could inhibit this move from actually happening.

Nevertheless, she said, the administration is open to working the color guard to reach a decision acceptable to both parties.