One of the nuggets of information revealed this weekend on Face the State during our interview with Dr. Steven Perry, was his desire to transform the critically acclaimed Capital Preparatory Magnet School into a boarding school.   Perry, the founder and principal of Capital Prep, would like to have housing built so his students could live there. 

Problem is, the neighborhood around the school is hardly conducive to a prep school atmosphere.  It is surrounded by barren vacant lots and a rundown building whose most lively business is a liquor store.   During our interview, Dr. Perry spelled out what he would like the city do with the neighborhood and downtown.   If the city has a vision for the neighborhood, I haven’t heard of it.  Perry has some ideas.  With the new public safety complex nearing completion a few blocks away, it might be a good time to unveil a development plan for this area on the fringe of downtown.

Capital Prep needs suburban students to survive and its surroundings are a turnoff to many people.   Dr. Perry admitted the students can’t safely walk in the neighborhood, saying “it looks like a bomb went off.  Hartford needs to improve.”     The campus is beautiful, with a state of the art building, yet no one drives up to it saying “what a pretty neighborhood.”    A dorm would be nice there, but how many parents would feel comfortable letting their students live there?  

You can watch Perry’s interview right here:  http://www.wfsb.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6806226

also read:  http://dennishouse.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/cnn-commentator-unions-hurting-connecticut-schools/