The Norwich Free Academy: Decades of Change 1954- Present

Although many changes occurred during the most recent 50 years of the Norwich Free Academy’s history, certain elements have remained unchanged. The Academy continues to build on the foresight of its founders, who wrote: “We shall strive to make it the glory of our beautiful town – the home of sound and liberal learning – the arena of a severe intellectual discipline – the center of a refined culture in the elegant arts – the forum upon which all reappear the masters of eloquent speech – the academic hall which shall re-utter the teaching of the academic groves….”

In 1953, when the Lafayette Foster House was purchased and renovated into the combined Norton-Peck Library, the final addition to the Academy campus prior to the school’s 100^th Anniversary took place.

During the 1950’s, a national trend in secondary schools was to give special attention to gifted students who had the ability to handle and profit from advanced work. In 1955 NFA inaugurated an honors course offering extra instruction in the various academic fields represented by the Academy curriculum and taught jointly by two members of the faculty. Although added emphasis was now placed on the gifted students, special needs students were not neglected at the Academy. The school established core-designed classes to assist the most challenged learners and remedial and developmental programs for students with reading difficulties.

With increased enrollment and increased record keeping, the Academy’s main office became too cramped for the needed staff. This vital part of the school had already moved from its original quarters in the Tirrell Building to rooms in the Slater building that had been vacated by the library. Mr. Shattuck decided to renovate a house on campus given by Mrs. Wallace Allis, a trustee, to create a complete office building. In 1961, when the renovation was complete, the administrative staff moved into its own building, Allis House, where it remains today.

Once again the Academy found itself in need of space, this time classroom space. To meet this shortage, in 1964 the trustees authorized the construction of a 27-room building on land donated by Mrs. Allis. When the building was complete, George Shattuck announced his retirement plans. To mark his service, the new building was named Shattuck House; thus, Mr. Shattuck became the first Principal so honored.

Paul Petrich became the sixth principal in 1965. Having been a principal in schools from Hanover, New Hampshire, to Laramie, Wyoming, he brought a variety of experiences to the position. His new approach led to a number of changes; for example, he enlarged the faculty by hiring several new teachers. Aware of the latest developments in teaching techniques, he organized the concept of team teaching at various levels. Teaming required planning a unit of study across discipline lines, which enabled students to obtain a deeper understanding of each academic area and how academic disciplines connect. Another of Mr. Petrich’s concerns was continuing education for faculty members. To promote continuing education, he urged teachers to participate in three self-improvement plans. One was the John Hays summer studies program, the second was the National Defense Education Act fellowship program, and the third was the Noyes Foundation grant program. The first two of these were administered by outside agencies. However, the Noyes Foundation Fellowship recipients were chosen on campus through a complex self-selection procedure.

After his tenure of a year and one-half, Paul Petrich resigned to devote his time to the completion of his doctoral dissertation. For his successor the Trustees named the assistant principal, Charles P. Hamblen. Mr. Hamblen was Norwich-born and had graduated from the Academy in 1934. After his graduation from the University of Connecticut, he returned to NFA as a teacher in the English Department. Next, he took further training and moved to the Guidance Department, and from there to the position of Assistant Principal.

Always interested in new ideas for bettering the school, Mr. Hamblen introduced the House Plan, a system that effected a more personal relationship between the students and the school. Under his guidance, the administration adopted the data processing method of school management and brought in IBM electronic equipment to do routine record keeping. During Mr. Hamblen’s administration, Assistant Principal Joseph Levanto ’47 instituted the school’s first focused attempt to curb absenteeism. The highly successful program received national attention. Building on these successes, Mr. Hamblen oversaw the development of a student volunteer group that would give service to the school and community. He believed that our nation’s greatest resource was teenagers and that teenagers are caring, compassionate and cooperative individuals with energy that can be directed toward creating a better world. The result of his vision was the volunteer organization Project Outreach. Founded in 1970, it remains one of the most active student organizations on the campus today.

In 1975, after eight years as principal, Mr. Hamblen resigned. Once again the trustees selected the Assistant Principal as successor. Dr. Joseph Levanto became NFA’s eighth principal and the school’s first superintendent. A 1947 graduate of the Academy, Dr. Levanto received a BS degree from American International College. By 1970 he had earned MS and Ph.D. degrees. His doctorate was awarded in the field of school administration with computer science as a related area. During his years as an NFA teacher, he taught a variety of science courses and coached football and baseball. Concurrent with his science teaching, he received two National Science Foundation grants for work in oceanography.

Dr. Levanto’s accomplishments were many. One of his first actions was to provide a new course and building for students interested in power mechanics. This popular offering is an example of the Academy philosophy “to provide education for all youth in the community according to their needs.” Dr. Levanto refined the school’s policy on absenteeism, making it a model for other institutions. Aware that the school’s athletic facilities were inadequate, he devised plans for an expanded gymnasium. The result, Alumni Hall, greatly enhanced the Academy’s physical education program. Another improvement in athletics was the construction of an all-weather track. This came about as the result of a challenge gift of $25,000 from a dedicated parent, Allyn L. Brown Jr. Dr. Levanto presented the challenge of matching the gift to the student body, and the challenge was accepted with enthusiasm. So great was the effort that throughout the year nearly $45,000 was raised by students, friends and alumni for the project. The proposal became a reality in June 1978.

During the winter of 1978 the school experienced one of its worst disasters. On the night of February 8, fire burned one section of Bradlaw House beyond service. However, through the efforts and cooperation of administrators and teachers, the school opened on schedule after the forced storm closing. Within nine months the restored building was returned to service.

It was under Dr. Levanto’s leadership that Century-Norwich Corporation offered the school the education channel and provided basic equipment to do on-air programming on the cable system. As a result, Academy students began receiving valuable hands-on experience with equipment that was, in many cases, as good as that used by commercial television stations. Another Academy distinction undertaken during Dr. Levanto’s administration is the observatory. Made possible through the generosity of Dr. Eugene F. Mallove ’65 and Mrs. Gladys Mallove, it was constructed by NFA maintenance personnel in 1982. A key component of The Academy’s science program, the observatory has a powerful telescope for use in astronomy classes.

It was under Dr. Levanto’s leadership, when in 1984, Alumni House was established at the north end of the NFA campus. The Alumni House offers a welcoming setting for returning graduates, serves as a meeting place for alumni activities, and houses the NFA Alumni and Development Offices. In addition, Dr. Levanto encouraged the Board of Trustees to contemplate seriously and plan for a new library.

On August 15, 1988, Dr. Morton Sherman became NFA’s ninth headmaster. Dr. Sherman brought with him a clear understanding of the importance of reducing absenteeism, increasing the graduation rate, and increasing the number of students going on to college.

The plan to build a new library came to fruition under the guidance of Dr. Sherman. In May 1991, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Latham Jr. and family contributed over $1 million to the Academy for its new science facility. The Latham Science and Information Center was named in memory of Allen Latham Sr., who was an Academy teacher and chairman of the Science Department until his retirement in 1919. In August 1991 Helen M. Land provided funding to establish the Edwin H. Land Library in memory of her late husband, Edwin H. Land, a member of the Class of 1926 and the founder of Polaroid Corporation. On September 4, 1992, amid beaming donors, dignitaries and hundreds of on-lookers, Mr. Allen Latham Jr. ’26, cut the symbolic ribbon that formally opened The Latham Science and Information Center, the newest addition to the Academy campus.

In the midst of the Latham Science and Information Center construction, Dr. Sherman announced his resignation effective June 30, 1992. On July 1, 1992, Dr. Mary Lou Bargnesi, Class of 1967, took over the reins as the interim superintendent/principal. Dr. Bargnesi graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1971 with degrees in English and secondary education. She held graduate degrees, also from UConn: an MA in secondary education and a Ph.D. in administration, supervision and curriculum. Dr. Bargnesi first returned to The Academy to do her student teaching. After completing her BA degree, she taught English for twelve years at Montville High School, and then served as assistant principal at Killingly and East Lyme high schools. In 1985 she became the elementary school principal and curriculum director in the Lyme-Old Lyme School System. Dr. Bargnesi returned to The Academy again in 1989 as Assistant Superintendent and served in that position until assuming the responsibilities of interim head.

Dr. Bargnesi was named superintendent/principal on April 20, 1993. The fourth NFA graduate and first woman to head NFA, Dr. Bargnesi accepted the position as the Academy’s tenth leader amid trustee praise and faculty and staff applause.

On February 29, 1994, the Slater Auditorium was the setting for a historic visit by the President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton. President Clinton came to Norwich to promote his healthcare reform package, and the NFA campus was the chosen site. Everyone at NFA will long remember this presidential visit.

1994 was the first year in which the Jubilee Reunion was held. It came about because many alumni who had attended their 60^th year reunion said that five years was too long to wait for another reunion. The Alumni Association heard their concerns and planned the first Jubilee Reunion for October 30, 1994. Over the years Jubilee has become one of the better-attended and most enjoyable events sponsored by the Alumni Association.

Another Academy first was the installation of an artificial turf football field. Because students use the field year-round, growing grass had become a problem, and artificial turf seemed to be the best solution. The installation of artificial turf, a wondrous invention of the 1960’s, meant an end to watering, mowing and reseeding the football field. On June 20, 1998, the day after graduation, equipment was moved onto the site and work on the new turf field began the following Monday.

Another development took place in 1998 in the area of Academy athletics. The new sports complex was officially opened. NFA alumni and friends, many of whom were in attendance at the 1998 Wildcat Homecoming victory over Waterford High, gave generously to make the new complex a reality.

At the beginning of this new century, the Alumni Association Board of Directors decided to find a way to recognize alumni who show continued interest in and support of NFA and/or the Alumni Association. The Board decided to institute an annual Distinguished Service Award. In 2002 the first recipient was chosen – Bernard (Bernie) Savage ’35, now deceased. Mr. Savage was honored at the annual meeting of the Alumni Association and presented with a specially crafted award.

The Distinguished Service Award program is now an annual award. A permanent plaque in the Levanto Alumni House displays the names of all recipients. (Alumni may nominate potential recipients by filling out the nomination form included in issues of Alma Matters.)

The NFA Sports Hall of Fame is another institution begun in this century. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize the unique and extraordinary tradition of excellence in the NFA interscholastic athletic program. The first induction, honoring fifteen alumni, took place on October 27, 2001, during the Homecoming Weekend celebration. The next induction, took place on October 23, 2004, during Homecoming weekend, and the induction ceremony has become a much anticipated annual event.

During the 2001-2002 school year, NFA was named a ‘Blue Ribbon School of Excellence’ by the United States Department of Education. This award, given after an exhaustive examination process, recognized the Academy’s outstanding academic and art programs, its focus on service to the community, and its commitment to excellence.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program was established by the Secretary of Education in 1982 and developed into a national school improvement strategy with three purposes. First, it identifies and recognizes outstanding public and private schools across the nation. Second, the program makes research-based effectiveness criteria available to all schools so they can assess themselves and plan improvements. Third, the program encourages schools, both within and among themselves, to share information about best practices based on a common understanding of criteria related to educational success. Blue Ribbon Schools are models of both excellence and equity. To be recognized, a school must demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students. The members of NFA’s faculty, staff and Boards were honored that the Academy received national commendation, affirming what they had always known: NFA is a very special school.

The focus for the early years of the new millennium shifted to the need for a music and art facility. The fine-art classes were scattered throughout the campus and some music programs were held in the basement of the gym in a room originally designed for wrestling. The administration and trustees saw the need to create specific spaces for these programs. The solution was a 40,000-square-foot expansion of the Bradlaw Building, to be completed in the fall of 2005. At the annual Board meeting on November 9, 2004, Dr. Bargnesi announced that Sidney Frank, ’38, had finalized his plans to donate 12 million dollars to the Academy’s unrestricted endowment. The announcement added to Frank’s earlier donation of $1 million, received at the end of 2003. Frank’s gift was the largest in Academy history. The Board of Trustees recognized Frank’s generosity by naming the new Bradlaw wing, The Sidney E. Frank Center for the Visual and Performing Arts.

The history of The Norwich Free Academy is the story of challenging work done by thoughtful, intelligent people, who are “guided by reason and wisdom.” History is made up of the current events of yesterday, so the NFA history of tomorrow is created by today’s efforts. The Academy of today turns its attention to renewed and reinvigorated efforts to serve all students who enter her classrooms. Specifically, NFA welcomes the challenges and opportunities presented by increasing diversity -- economic, linguistic, cultural, and ethnic. Through differences, the Academy has forged the unifying bonds of commonality, the vision shared and first expressed by its founders: education, equity, and excellence.