1700 and Holding School board decides in favor of smaller weight room, maintains tech space
By: Heather Plonchak, Saugerties Times , February 14, 2008
With renovations to the exiting weight room at the high school set to begin the following week, the Saugerties Board of Education met last Tuesday to decide whether to accept the a proposal that would provide for a 2500 square foot weight room in space currently occupied by the technology department, or renovate the existing floor plan. They chose the latter, essentially picking the proposal suggested by the technology department over the proposal by the administration. The existing weight room space will be redesigned, while the question of what if any changes will be made to a technology space superintendent Richard Rhau characterized as "far more space than we need." Even with the weather causing schools within the district to close early, the school board met as scheduled. Absent from the meeting were trustees Robert McCaig, Michael Brennan, and Terry Parisian. Also absent, Rhau and assistant superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo. Before the vote, members of the public had one last chance to weigh in. Two student athletes spoke in support of a new, bigger, state-of-the-art adaptive physical education room (a.k.a. weight room). Victor Clearwater stated that he wanted a new APE room more for education than anything else. He explained that he felt that students with access to such a facility would gain the mindset to go out into the world and continue to stay fit, thus combating the growing problem of obesity. "It's true we'd be taking some room away from technology, but we have three huge technology rooms and the biggest thing we make is a little mousetrap car," said Clearwater. Zack Horton, who has spoken at previous meetings in support of the proposed new 2500 square foot APE room, was concerned that the students were "pushed aside" during the decision making process. "No one ever asked what we wanted," said Horton. "I know we aren't the ones who support the district with money, but we are the ones attending the schools five days a week." Technology department chairman John Lombardo, who also coaches track, also spoke. "I support a weight room," said Lombardo, "but not one that is 2500 square feet. I support a weight room that is about 1800 square feet, and well ventilated, with good equipment." Lombardo pointed out that the district could explore other avenues to promote fitness and healthy lifestyles among the students, such as diet. He explained that the school cafeteria offers Big Texas Cinnamon Rolls for students to purchase. These snacks contain 460 calories and 22 grams of fat. "A student would have to run at four miles per hour for nearly 80 minutes to burn off the calories in just one of these snacks," said Lombardo. Lombardo was not alone in his support of a smaller weight room. Speakers Tom Ham, John Emerick, and Bob Slate also approached the podium with their reasons for supporting a 1700 square foot weight room and an expanded technology program. During board reports, three of the six board members present also spoke to this effect. George Heidcamp recounted the numerous hours of research that he has put in on the issue, as well as hundreds of emails, letters, phone calls, and conversations that he has shared with residents whom he said were "overwhelmingly in favor of technology." He also responded to Horton, saying that he had contacted the student representative, and asked that she ask students to contact the board with their feelings on the matter. Heidcamp promised that the students would also receive an APE room to be proud of, but that he would be voting to designate the current 1700 square foot area for that room. "When I was elected, I promised to represent the people. Tonight, that's what I'm going to do," concluded Heidcamp. Sam Fisco concurred, and also asked that the students keep the board abreast of what they need. "There isn't a single board member up here who would turn their back on a student who came to us with a problem or concern," he said.
Student opinion not considered? "It seems that this decision has divided the community somewhat," said board president Donald Tucker during his comments. "This has happened, I think, because of certain attitudes and a complete unwillingness to compromise." Tucker thanked the technology teachers and board of education members for the many hours of work they had contributed to arriving at a decision that they felt would best serve the student population. "I want to clarify to the students," Tucker continued, "You will have a state of the art weight room. Will it be 2500 square feet? No, It will not. It will be about 1700 square feet, and we will give more space to technology." The motion that would direct the district's architect to reinstate the original size and dimensions for the APE room (1748 square feet, measured as 31.5'x55.5') and to reconfigure the placement of the equipment to be contained in that space, was carried with a unanimous vote of the six board members present. After the meeting, Horton, who felt that the students should have been involved with the decision making, said that no one contacted him for his opinion, nor was the football team, or the many athletes within the student population contacted. "The student rep didn't get in touch with the students or the athletes." Horton added that he was unable to contact the board of education because he did not know how. Asked what he thought of the board's decision, Horton said, "As long as we have enough room to work out and do what we have to do, and we can breathe and not have someone standing on top of us, then I guess it's OK." Clearwater, who spoke to both Heidcamp and Fisco in the days prior to the meeting, said that he suggested to Fisco that a vote be held at the school to gain the opinions of the entire student body. At the eleventh hour, he explained, there was no time to pull such an endeavor together before the board meeting. "The board says that we'll be happy with what we get, so I guess it's fine," Clearwater concluded.
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