Chaos or Community? Nick Azzarito Andy Lasek. Problem Statement New Canaan is distinguished for its sheltered, stable, and uninfluenced qualities. New.

Chaos or Chaos or Community?Community?

Nick AzzaritoNick Azzarito

Andy LasekAndy Lasek

Problem StatementProblem Statement

New Canaan is distinguished for its New Canaan is distinguished for its sheltered, stable, and uninfluenced sheltered, stable, and uninfluenced qualities.qualities.

For the most part, these qualities For the most part, these qualities are good for raising a family.are good for raising a family.

However, those that have lived here However, those that have lived here since birth wrongly believe that this since birth wrongly believe that this is so all around the world.is so all around the world.

Proof of ProblemProof of Problem

100 High school students polled.100 High school students polled. When asked how aware they were When asked how aware they were

about the issues of the towns about the issues of the towns surrounding New Canaan, 60% surrounding New Canaan, 60% reported being relatively unaware.reported being relatively unaware.

Again, over half reported that they Again, over half reported that they felt isolated from neighboring towns felt isolated from neighboring towns living in New Canaan.living in New Canaan.

How To Involve NC Teens In Surrounding Towns

Methods of Change

InstitutionsInstitutions GovernmentalGovernmental PrivatePrivate

School System

Improving Public Ed.

Magnet Schools

Voucher System (For Seniors)

Puts a Market on Public Education

Sports

Makes Towns Enemies

Deep Issue of Competition

Too Hard to Fix/Too Little Effect

Dead End

Work With

Existing Policy

Bureaucracy’s Inhabitant Process

Dead End New

Programs

Formation Of Committee

Targeting Local Issues

Teen Summit

Social

Target Broadening of Cultural Interaction

Overly Separated

Events Like Concerts

Lack Of Excitement

Dead End

Economic

iblast Proliferation

Proof of Concept (Survey)

Contradictory Data on Spending

Dead End

Solution 1: Financial Solution 1: Financial StimulusStimulus

Enact a program similar to iblast, Enact a program similar to iblast, except aimed towards teens and except aimed towards teens and spread throughout Fairfield County.spread throughout Fairfield County.

Based on the theory that teens Based on the theory that teens spend much more money in town spend much more money in town than in the surrounding towns.than in the surrounding towns.

Goes with the belief that spending Goes with the belief that spending more time in other towns better more time in other towns better exposes teens to other culturesexposes teens to other cultures

Pros and ConsPros and Cons

With the economy With the economy at its current state, at its current state, local vendors will local vendors will be willing to make a be willing to make a deal akin to iblast.deal akin to iblast.

Discounts would be Discounts would be an effective way to an effective way to encourage teens to encourage teens to spend more time in spend more time in other towns.other towns.

Lingering question: Lingering question: does spending does spending money in a town money in a town increase one’s increase one’s awareness about awareness about the town’s the town’s problems?problems?

Would not be a long Would not be a long term solution, term solution, benefits would be benefits would be indirect.indirect.

The VerdictThe Verdict

Not worth undertaking.Not worth undertaking. Same survey shows teens spend the Same survey shows teens spend the

same amount, if not more in same amount, if not more in surrounding towns thanks largely to surrounding towns thanks largely to fast food.fast food.

Because the purpose for pursuit Because the purpose for pursuit would be perpetually unclear, the would be perpetually unclear, the chance of success would be very low.chance of success would be very low.

Solution 2: Magnet Solution 2: Magnet SchoolsSchools

Would restructure Fairfield County High Would restructure Fairfield County High Schools to specialize in the industries a Schools to specialize in the industries a particular town hosts.particular town hosts.

Seniors would elect the specialty they Seniors would elect the specialty they wanted to learn more about and attend a wanted to learn more about and attend a high school tailored to it.high school tailored to it.

A voucher system would fund the A voucher system would fund the program, with supplemental money, program, with supplemental money, making it profitable for the schools to making it profitable for the schools to have the best run, most attractive have the best run, most attractive program.program.

Pros and ConsPros and Cons A major restructuring A major restructuring

would make public would make public schools competitive with schools competitive with private again.private again.

Would give teens a Would give teens a chance to try a chance to try a profession before profession before committing to it.committing to it.

Because the vouchers Because the vouchers would only be for seniors, would only be for seniors, poorly run schools still poorly run schools still couldn’t be bankrupted, couldn’t be bankrupted, instead would miss out instead would miss out on the supplemental on the supplemental voucher money.voucher money.

When was the last When was the last time public anything time public anything was restructured?was restructured?

No matter how much No matter how much you want to study you want to study Blackhawk helos, Blackhawk helos, teens will not leave teens will not leave NCHS to go to NCHS to go to Bridgeport Central.Bridgeport Central.

High School sports High School sports would be completely would be completely disheveled. disheveled.

The VerdictThe Verdict

Nearly impossible in this lifetime.Nearly impossible in this lifetime. Teenagers will realistically never be Teenagers will realistically never be

able to restructure education.able to restructure education. Some schools have more to lose than Some schools have more to lose than

others, and unions would proceed to others, and unions would proceed to crush any hopes of success.crush any hopes of success.

People we talked to liked the idea People we talked to liked the idea only until they realized we were only until they realized we were serious.serious.

Solution 3: FC Teen Solution 3: FC Teen SummitSummit

Would be structured similarly to Would be structured similarly to Model UNModel UN

Hosted by NCHS, NC VolunteersHosted by NCHS, NC Volunteers Teens from around Fairfield County Teens from around Fairfield County

would discuss varying issues within would discuss varying issues within their own towns, and the group as a their own towns, and the group as a whole would seek and discuss whole would seek and discuss solutions.solutions.

Pros and ConsPros and Cons Fairly simple and Fairly simple and

inexpensive.inexpensive. Would have very Would have very

tangible results- the tangible results- the group would have the group would have the ability to present ability to present solutions to leaders solutions to leaders that could enact them.that could enact them.

Already have support Already have support from several school from several school principals outside of principals outside of New Canaan, as well New Canaan, as well as Jeb Walker.as Jeb Walker.

The experience The experience would benefit few would benefit few outside the roughly outside the roughly 30 students in 30 students in attendance. attendance.

Could be viewed as Could be viewed as the elitist town of the elitist town of New Canaan New Canaan coming to Fairfield coming to Fairfield County’s rescue.County’s rescue.

The VerdictThe Verdict

Doable, worth pursuing.Doable, worth pursuing. Because of its simplicity, the idea is fairly Because of its simplicity, the idea is fairly

elegant. The multipurpose room can be elegant. The multipurpose room can be reserved for free, and with the help of reserved for free, and with the help of volunteers as moderators, the only volunteers as moderators, the only expense would be snacks and other little expense would be snacks and other little things.things.

Because of the support of various school Because of the support of various school administrators, this idea can be administrators, this idea can be accomplished.accomplished.

Plan of ActionPlan of Action Contact principals of neighboring high schools Contact principals of neighboring high schools

to poll interest.to poll interest. Plan with student leaders a timeline for Plan with student leaders a timeline for

meetings.meetings. Start tapping people to chair/ run the Start tapping people to chair/ run the

committee.committee. Once dates are scheduled, send out invitations Once dates are scheduled, send out invitations

for students to attend, and reserve the for students to attend, and reserve the multipurpose room. multipurpose room.

About 2 weeks prior to the convention, About 2 weeks prior to the convention, research potential issues for discussion, as research potential issues for discussion, as well as scripting essential questions.well as scripting essential questions.

Solution 4: Border Solution 4: Border CrossingsCrossings

Border Crossings was an after school Border Crossings was an after school program for students wishing to learn program for students wishing to learn more about the various problems in more about the various problems in Fairfield County towns. Fairfield County towns.

It was cut for 2009-2010 due to budget It was cut for 2009-2010 due to budget short falls.short falls.

It is our plan to identify the failure of the It is our plan to identify the failure of the class as it is and rework it to be successful.class as it is and rework it to be successful.

There where two major flaws: Firstly, it There where two major flaws: Firstly, it was an after-school night course, and was an after-school night course, and secondly it was under special education.secondly it was under special education.

Our VisionOur Vision

Rework Border Crossings as a full time Rework Border Crossings as a full time course at NCHS with similar objectives in course at NCHS with similar objectives in mind.mind.

Make the class an elective that students Make the class an elective that students can take without having to compromise can take without having to compromise with after school activities. with after school activities.

Base the course off of case studies, similar Base the course off of case studies, similar in format to what is popular at business in format to what is popular at business schools. schools.

Our Vision Pt. 2Our Vision Pt. 2

The class would spend time The class would spend time examining various aspects of society examining various aspects of society that have been successful in some that have been successful in some towns but unsuccessful in others. towns but unsuccessful in others. The course would also study how The course would also study how some towns have successfully some towns have successfully achieved change and how that may achieved change and how that may be instated in other towns.be instated in other towns.

Pros and ConsPros and Cons Accomplishes our Accomplishes our

ultimate goal.ultimate goal. Does the best job Does the best job

widening the widening the awareness of awareness of NCHS teens.NCHS teens.

Least radical Least radical change, best change, best compromise.compromise.

Only obstacle is Only obstacle is raising money.raising money.

It would cost It would cost roughly $12,000 roughly $12,000 per year to fund.per year to fund.

The VerdictThe Verdict

The best option for a solution and The best option for a solution and most likely to be pursued.most likely to be pursued.

While $12,000 is expensive for While $12,000 is expensive for students to raise, the economy students to raise, the economy permits five+ philanthropy groups to permits five+ philanthropy groups to donate money for this worthy cause.donate money for this worthy cause.

Plan of ActionPlan of Action Determine the cost to revive course ($12k)Determine the cost to revive course ($12k) Find groups that could potentially give aid Find groups that could potentially give aid

(Rotary Club, United Way, NC Community (Rotary Club, United Way, NC Community Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, HBS Club Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, HBS Club of Fairfield Countyof Fairfield County

Email various members of aforementioned Email various members of aforementioned groups.groups.

Work to secure funding.Work to secure funding. Work with Mr. Pavia to present funding as a Work with Mr. Pavia to present funding as a

lasting work/donation to NCHS.lasting work/donation to NCHS. Find a teacher willing to run the renewed Find a teacher willing to run the renewed

Border Crossings Course as an elective.Border Crossings Course as an elective.

ConclusionConclusion

This project did a good job This project did a good job highlighting how lucky we are to live highlighting how lucky we are to live in NC, the problems just aren’t that in NC, the problems just aren’t that big.big.

We scaled the ideas down nicely, We scaled the ideas down nicely, from restructuring the public school from restructuring the public school system to reviving a course we feel in system to reviving a course we feel in important to keep.important to keep.

Got a good idea of how long it takes Got a good idea of how long it takes to bring about change.to bring about change.