Caledonia Argus

Larger weight room may be in store at high school

Posted: 12/10/03

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

Lifting weights is a growing activity at high schools, including Caledonia.

That fact came out at the December 2 school board meeting when weight trainer Carl Fruechte asked the board to let him and some volunteers do a major modification of the schoolís weight room.

The board complied, pending an OK from the buildingís architect that removing the concrete block walls will not hurt the building structurally. Their motion also stipulated that it wonít cost the district any money.

Fruechte wants to knock out the wall that separates the weight room from an adjoining room that is used for storage of physical education supplies. This equipment can be stored in other places, Fruechte said.

The goal is to make more room for kids to lift weights, Fruechte told the board. He said he is frustrated with the present space, and that itís not what he had requested when the building was designed.

High school principal Cory Klabunde agreed that the room is not a safe or appropriate place for weight lifting.

The board took a break from their media center location and looked at the two rooms to get an idea of what Fruechte proposed. They saw that some weights and mats were being used in a hallway outside the weight room, and that two exercise machines were located in a storage room for athletic equipment.

Volunteers who have the necessary skills will do most of the work, Fruechte said, and he has the funds to cover expenses, such as $1,200 for mats on the floor.

Contract for heat pumps?

The board also discussed entering a service agreement for maintenance of the schoolís heating system, which uses 135 water source heat pumps.

Bill Woolley, the schoolís maintenance director, recommended the service agreement. He said his staff can change the air filters and do other general maintenance items, but that some maintenance goes beyond their expertise.

Mike Buchner, the project manager for Hengel Brothers, the company that installed the system, also recommended that an outside firm be hired. He said in a letter to superintendent Jim Tool that the refrigeration systems in the heat pumps should be serviced by EPA certified technicians, and that the building automation system required highly trained people to service and maintain it.

Board member Naomi Fruechte said a service contract made sense to ensure that the the system stays in good working condition.

Superintendent Jim Tool said he would bring some service contract quotes to the boardís next meeting, which is Thursday, December 18 at 6 p.m. in the media center.

Other business

ï The board also approved a quit claim deed for property in section six of Crooked Creek Township owned by John and Debra Leahy. The property had been deeded to School District 72 by Lawrence and Sophie Yohe in 1875 to be used as a school. The school is no longer there, so the Leahys want clear title to the property, which the boardís motion granted.

ï The board watched a 30-minute power point presentation on No Child Left Behind legislation. The theme of the message was that it will be virtually impossible for schools to meet the requirements. Tool ended the discussion on it by saying that politics will change the law and it will never reach its final stages.

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