RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board Monday unanimously approved the concept of building a student and staff fitness center onto Mountain Valley High School at no cost to taxpayers.
The decision came after several months of work by an ad hoc committee headed by board member Frank DiConzo looking into constructing a larger fitness center open to the general public.
When the idea first emerged about a year ago, plans were to build such an addition for an estimated $275,000.
In a non-binding vote in June, voters approved the district pursuing plans to build a community wellness center providing it cost taxpayers nothing.
The school’s fitness equipment is stored in the weight room or lockers of the gym.
Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said a committee of administrators and staff will soon be organized to work out the details of an addition and funding. He said voters would have to approve it no earlier than June 2006.
The ad hoc committee was officially dissolved Monday night, DiConzo said.
He said he plans to still pursue a community wellness center that could include a pool and be open to the general public. He said some of the ad hoc committee’s community members are likely to join him.
“I’m disappointed (in the district’s decision), but now I’ll bring the idea to the Downtown Revitalization Committee,” he said after the meeting.
That committee meets today in the Municipal Auditorium.
In other matters, the board approved the appointment of Ryan Casey as assistant principal at Mountain Valley Middle School. A district health teacher and coach for several years, he succeeds Chris Decker who accepted a position as assistant principal at the high school last month.
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