By Peter Barhydt
Rising elementary school enrollment, particularly at West School, is prompting New Canaan Public Schools to seek a $500,000 special appropriation to fund additional staffing, classroom materials and facility modifications ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
The request, discussed Tuesday during the Board of Selectmen meeting, reflects what school officials described as a measured response to unusual enrollment patterns that emerged following the pandemic-era increase in births across town.
Superintendent Dr. Bryan Luizzi told selectmen that New Canaan typically averages between 150 and 160 births annually, but beginning in 2021, births rose above 200.
“When we saw that in 2021, a couple of years ago, we thought, ‘Gosh, if that same ratio holds, we’ll be well over 400 children in our kindergarten class,’” Luizzi said.
Historically, the district has used what Luizzi described as a “birth decay ratio” to estimate future kindergarten enrollment. The district compares birth numbers from prior years to actual kindergarten attendance five years later and uses those trends to project incoming class sizes.
The district originally feared the spike in births would produce an unprecedented kindergarten surge. Instead, the enrollment growth has been uneven across the district.
At East School and South School, current enrollment trends appear manageable within existing classroom structures. But West School is seeing significantly higher numbers.
“The West kindergarten enrollment thus far is about 30% higher than we typically run,” Luizzi said.
If enrollment trends continue through the summer, the district expects to add one or possibly two kindergarten classrooms at West School.
To create the necessary space, the district plans to relocate two pre-kindergarten classrooms from West School to South School.
Luizzi said West School is already operating above its original intended classroom capacity.
“West is at maximum capacity now,” he said.
The proposed appropriation would fund several components tied to the anticipated expansion.
Those costs include:
• One or two additional kindergarten teachers.
• Classroom furniture and instructional materials.
• Refurbishment of a dedicated pre-kindergarten playground at South School.
• Minor transportation and logistical adjustments associated with splitting pre-K operations between two schools.
The playground work emerged as a major topic of discussion during the meeting.
Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll asked whether a separate playground was legally required for pre-kindergarten students.
“This is a requirement,” Luizzi responded.
Current estimates place the playground refurbishment between $150,000 and $200,000, though district officials said they are still refining those figures.
Luizzi emphasized that the district intentionally avoided building worst-case enrollment assumptions into its annual operating budget earlier this year.
“This was the right approach,” he said. “Had we budgeted for a worst-case scenario, we’re not there. And then we would’ve been talking about why did we build these extra funds into the budget.”
Instead, the district maintained stable staffing assumptions during the budget cycle and opted to address emerging enrollment needs later through a special appropriation process.
“If we needed more, and this is the conversation for us that we’re going into now, to do it as a special appropriation because of that variability, then we use the funds that are required to meet the needs — no more, no less,” Luizzi said.
Selectman Steve Karl asked whether the district risks overstaffing if the current kindergarten increase turns out to be temporary.
Luizzi said the district does not view the enrollment trend as a short-term “bubble,” noting elevated birth numbers have now continued for several years.
“I don’t know that this is a bubble,” Luizzi said. “When we go back three years, we’re seeing the birth rate over 200 all three years.”
He also noted that staffing adjustments are regularly made throughout the district through retirements, transfers and attrition.
“For instance, two years ago, we reduced our fifth grade by two teachers because of enrollment changes,” Luizzi said.
Carlson said the enrollment increase ultimately reflects broader demand to live in New Canaan.
“These are good problems to have,” she said.
The Board of Selectmen did not vote on the appropriation Tuesday. The request will continue through the Board of Finance and Town Council review process.
Much of the remainder of Tuesday’s meeting focused on infrastructure projects and capital purchases.
The town approved more than $2.5 million for local road paving projects and another $505,000 for road preservation work, including crack sealing and micro-thin overlay treatments.
Public Works Director Tiger Mann announced that Pine Street — the final road in a townwide paving initiative that began more than two decades ago — would be completed Tuesday.
“Twenty years ago, 22 years ago, we set out to repave every road in town,” Mann said. “Today Pine Street, which is the last road on our list, will be done.”
Officials also approved several equipment purchases for the Department of Public Works, including a new dump truck, a skid steer loader and a trailer.
The board additionally recognized National Public Works Week.
“After the winter we just had,” Carlson told Public Works employees, “wanted to thank you for all you do to keep this community moving and safe.”
The meeting opened with recognition of Girl Scout Troop 50489, which received praise for earning the Bronze Award through its “Cares Craft Club Project,” a community initiative supporting local nonprofits and younger children.
