The Grove City Area School Board has voted to put renovations to the high school’s fitness center on hold, following concerns raised by an ad-hoc committee and community members. Originally set to begin in March, the project was paused to allow for further evaluation.
The decision follows growing disagreements over the proposal, which aims to expand and modernize the school’s athletic facilities. School Board President Ryan Thomas told 21 News that feedback from various stakeholders played a crucial role in the delay.
“There was enough voice on putting a pause on it that I listened,” Thomas said. “There wasn’t enough movement on keeping with the current plan that we had in place.”
Concerns Over Planning and Impact
During Monday’s board meeting, several individuals expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of consultation with key stakeholders.
“It has been a cart-before-the-horse process,” said Stephanie McCreary. “Teachers were not asked about new physical education space and curriculum, sports teams were not asked about their needs, and students were not consulted on how they use the room.”
The original plan involved relocating the weight room into the current wrestling room to create a larger fitness center. However, this move sparked opposition, particularly from those worried about the impact on the wrestling program and other sports teams.
“There’s only one permanent padded room owned by the school district,” said board member Ed Phipps. “The possibilities for that space are limited only by your imagination and curriculum.”
Community Opposition and Facility Concerns
Several Grove City High School wrestlers attended the meeting in opposition to the project. Additionally, district-wide surveys indicated a lack of support for the fitness center relocation, with many citing potential disruptions to existing sports programs.
Despite opposition, studies have identified structural damage and aging equipment in the current weight room, emphasizing the need for upgrades. So far, the district has raised nearly $150,000 for the fitness center project.
Conclusion
While the project is currently on hold, Thomas indicated that the fitness center remains a priority for future development.
“Can we take a broader look at our overall facilities?” he said. “We know we have football fieldhouse needs. What does that look like? How does that affect our other sports teams? We plan to go back to our architect to help with the drawing board.”
With extensive electrical, mechanical, and plumbing upgrades planned for the high school, discussions about the fitness center’s future will continue. However, there is currently no timeline for when plans might resume.
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