Affirming the modern age of cooperation and shared responsibility, The Hotchkiss School recently pledged a matching gift $400,000 to the town of Salisbury, CT in support of the town’s efforts to build a new fire station. The new station will cost an estimated $3 million; the town is working to fund $1 million of the project’s total through private donations. To fulfill the matching requirement of the Hotchkiss gift, private/additional donations must raise $1.50 for each Hotchkiss dollar.

Hotchkiss Head Malcolm McKenzie expressed a great reverence for the traditions and work of New England volunteer fire fighters and rescue personnel.

“This New England tradition of fire and ambulance service is very unusual and very engrained…and all of us at Hotchkiss respect what you do.” (Litchfield County Times, Salisbury Firehouse Project Gets Major Boost from Hotchkiss)

Anyone who has lived in a rural community with volunteer rescue and fire fighting understands the importance of the community and seriousness with which volunteer rescue personnel take their responsibilities.

A quiet part of this respect that I discovered years ago is the relationship between New England boarding schools and the fire/rescue squads of their towns. The best schools and the best heads always go out of their way to support the fire/rescue squads whenever possible- fund raising, equipment, a place to stage practice drills. You name it; the best heads provide the best support they can.

The school-fire/rescue squad relationship must be built and maintained. It’s not natural. Generally, as non-profit institutions schools don’t contribute to local tax coffers so schools find themselves needing the support and protection of an institution that they’re not bound to support.

Every school will need the fire and rescue squad one day. It’s always better to be bound together in common goals and understanding before the times of help and need arrive. Hotchkiss has made a great gesture and built a strong bridge between school and town.