The following article, written by Klaus Gaebel, is reprinted from The Saugerties Post Star, 02-07-08 Eagle's View A View Around Town By: Klaus Gaebel, Saugerties Post Star , February 7, 2008   Technology vs Weight Room: Although voters approved a capital building and renovation project almost 3 years ago (March 2005) - the Board of Education is now in a position of having to hurry a decision on how to allocate space between the technology and the Adaptive Physical Education (APE) programs. APE makes use of weight and cardiovascular equipment. Unless 5 of 9 board members agree at the February 12th school board meeting to revise the superintendent's plan, which favors giving space to APE, the superintendent's plan will be implemented. To justify taking some of the space from the technology department and use it to significantly increase the size of the APE room, the administration is trying to make the case that the weight and cardiovascular equipment will serve a large student population beyond athletes, and help with child obesity problems. The administration is reaching in making that claim. Use of workout equipment may be the current rage for some, but tackling obesity problems doesn't start with weights and gyms. Trustees Rich Petramale and George Heidcamp have indicated serious reservations with the superintendent's plan. Jim Steinhilber has lately led the charge to make technology the priority. Steinhilber makes an excellent point when he says "this program [APE] is only a tool to be used to enhance the student's physical fitness, not a substitute for the many physical activities a student can choose to participate in, outside or during school hours." The Fall-2007 issue of the district newsletter (available on the school web site) featured a front page article titled "Exercise builds better bodies and better brains." The athletic director at the time said "our plan is to incorporate more activity into the classroom and more cardiovascular activity into the PE class." He continued, "we did a lot of curriculum writing over the summer that stresses more activity for all students at all levels." The newsletter proudly exclaimed that the district provides "a comprehensive physical education program for grades K-12." The district appears to have focused on what works best for most students in terms of physical education. Technology education, though, is lacking in the higher grades. The administration has said that some of the present technology floor space is inefficiently used, and wants to grab the real estate for APE. Much of the proposed new APE space would be used for stretching exercises for classes. There's an inefficient use. As Rich Petramale has said, "I suggest they stretch somewhere else." With everyone agreeing that technology education needs to undergo significant changes and emphasis - the board has the opportunity to provide space for education classes and labs and show they can plan beyond the next year. If the space is used for an oversized APE room, it will always stay an APE room, whether it makes sense or not. Providing additional space for current and future technology education, while providing our athletes some equipment they don't presently have, is the right mix.