Walking into Seaholm’s new weight room, one may stop and ask themselves, “Wait a second, isn’t this supposed to be new and improved?”
While the new weight room is substantially larger than it has been since the renovation, there are still many awaited features lacking.
At the beginning of the school year, many were expecting wood flooring and mirrors for Maple Motion, an area reserved for cardio machines, and partitions to divide the three sections of the room. There was even talk of televisions to be put in front of the cardio machines.
But up to this point, about a third of the area has rubber flooring under the weight lifting equipment, and the rest of the room is a dusty, vacant, cement floor.
As for the flooring, Piper said that the district is close to picking a contractor to complete the job, which he predicts could be done as early as mid- February ’09. The partitions to separate the portions of the room should be completed at that time also.
Without the hardwood portion of the weight room completed, the Maple Motion dance team is stuck practicing their routines in the cafeteria, which many of them resent.
“I’m so sick of dancing in the cafeteria,” said junior Maple Motion member Allison Mullen. “The floors are disgusting with food from four hours earlier. I wish we could be in the weight room because I feel the team could get a lot more accomplished.”
According to Principal Terry Piper, televisions are very unlikely at this point, as the cost of wiring and the TV’s themselves would detract too much out of the budget.
Administrators denied a pricing estimate, but said the flooring was to be paid for by the district.
As for cardio machines and other equipment, it is a thought that NHS and other student groups could help to fund these expenditures.
But aside from these negatives, there is hope for the future.
The number of cardio machines has been increased from 8 to 17, however, and Piper expects to have 30 machines by the end of the school year. Once the weight room is completed, there is hope that people outside of Seaholm will be able to use the facilities.
“I’d like to open up the weight room to the community,” Piper said. This would allow people in the community the opportunity to lift weights, use the new cardio machines, and possibly hold yoga classes on the hardwood floors. These sessions would not interfere with Seaholm athletic or gym classes, and could possibly raise money for the district.
For now, there’s light at the end of the tunnel for students and others waiting for the new facilities to be completed. Once it is completed, the new weight room should be a sight to behold.
