Science and tech center: Let’s not miss opportunity

Sometimes it’s hard to be patient and get through the hard work of preparation and implementation when a project is so exciting that one just wishes it would be done. So it is with the one-time Clarke B. Wood agricultural-education building at Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village. Now, the structure, which was built in 1961 and then replaced with a brand new ag-ed complex in 2001, is awaiting the renovation that will transform it into a state-of-the-art science and technology building.

A portion of the building is already home to the artgarage, where students are given the opportunity to stretch their creative muscles and paint, sculpt and build works of art to share with their community. That space has been used to give students the chance to take part in many art projects, such as the current Chairish the Arts fundraising event, with the help of professional artist volunteers who are also mentors to them.

Now, though, with the help of a new, anonymous and extremely generous donation of $100,000 to the 21st Century Fund targeted for the renovation of the former Clarke Wood building (as reported by Patrick Sullivan in last week’s Lakeville Journal), the dream of opening a science and technology center next to the artgarage is one step closer to reality.

At one time, it may have seemed easy to take for granted the generosity of those who support so many worthy causes in the Tri-state area. But not now, with the economic downturn which has affected every economic strata, through which all have been struggling. Every cent that is donated to any nonprofit organization now is even more greatly appreciated. And the $100,000 gift, which was given in memory of Daniel Scott Parsons, a 1991 alumni of Housatonic who tragically died at the age of 21 in a car accident, is so very significant to the future of the science and technology center. It’s made it much more possible that there will be an earlier start for the project, since there is now $137,000 in the fund which must reach $200,000 before construction can begin.

So kudos to all at the 21st Century Fund for the hard work that has led to this moment. And kudos to Jack Mahoney, who took a trip across the country in 1992, when he was principal at Housy, visiting numerous schools to look for ways to improve the high school experience for Region One students. He discovered the idea of a private foundation to fund activities outside the school budget at a public high school when he visited San Diego, Calif., at the area’s La Jolla High School. Mahoney implemented the idea for the Housatonic Valley Regional High School community upon his return with the help of Virgil Stucker, who was then president of the Berkshire-Taconic Community Foundation, and the 21st Century Fund was created.

Many programs and opportunities which would otherwise have been impossible to provide through the annual Region One budget alone have been made available with the help of the 21st Century Fund. The high school’s robotics and Envirothon teams, for instance, have been funded this way, and will be among those benefiting from the renovation of the science and technology facility.

They’ll just have to continue to be patient, however, and take the process step by step, working toward having the building ready to go once sufficient funds are raised and the work is accomplished. To help make it happen more quickly, send donations to: The 21st Century Fund, PO Box 132, Falls Village, CT  06031.