The Sound School History
The inspiration for The Sound School was George Foote, founder and first principal. He had a deep love for our maritime heritage, and felt New Haven harbor could provide the backdrop for an exciting hands on curriculum which would incorporate the harbor, marine science, and oceanography into an exciting educational alternative to the large comprehensive high schools in the city. With the support of the New Haven Board of Education, and a grant from the Federal Government, the experiment began.
In 1981 George Foote, 5 staff members and 80 students began the Sound School in the industrial wing of Betsy Ross Middle School. Students were transported to this our current campus to do their Marine Technology, once a week.
From 1983 to 1986 the Sound School grew to 8 staff 150 students and occupied a section of what was New Haven's third comprehensive high school, Lee High. The students were still transported to South Water Street once a week for the Marine Technology portion of the curriculum.
In 1986 the Sound School looking for a home worked out an arrangement to hold classes in a wing of the Chemistry floor at the Southern Connecticut State University. Students were still transported to the shop on South Water Street for their Marine Technology, but they never complained.
From 1987 to 1989 the staff and student population grew to 11 staff and 180 students and this time the Sound School found itself at the Marine Naval Reserve Center just across the harbor. It was closer to our permanent home, but still students were transported to our present site for their Marine Technology classes.
In 1989 the student and faculty population stayed the same as the previous year, but the first phase of the Sound Schools' permanent home began construction. Academic classrooms and Science labs were opened and the transporting of students to this site for Marine Technology was significantly scaled back.
In the summer and fall of 1989 phase 2 of the campus was completed, and several academic classrooms were added.
In 1993 the faculty had grown to 13 and the student population reached 180. Phase three building renovations of existing facilities took place and a Marine Science Lab was added, as well as a computer lab and a video lab.
In 1994 the Sound School had grown again, there were 16 teachers 210 students. This was the year that the Aquaculture program came into existence accepting students from four cooperating districts. A fishing gear lab was created and the process of planning for the new science center was initiated.
In l 995 the City of New Haven purchased the building at 82 South Water St. This same year the program had grown to Six Cooperating Districts and the planning for Fish Production, and an additional boat shop was in high gear.
From this brief history you can see that the Sound School has lived and embraced change from its inception. Today, the size of our campus has grown to 320 students and over 40 faculty members and support staff. We look forward to the challenges that we will face in the future.
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