PRESCOTT – The Prescott School Board approved two large donations at its Jan. 12 meeting for upgrades to the Prescott High School weight room: A $40,000 donation from Kwik-Trip and a $10,000 donation from Packard Holdings.

Strength & Conditioning Coordinator and physical education/ health teacher Jordan Hansen showed the board how the donations will be used to maximize the weight room space, which is used by multiple groups to augment performance, health, strength and conditioning.

The project costs can be broken down like this (for a total of $83,494.12):

•$37.217.16 in new weight equipment

•$35,746.21 in flooring and turf

•$10,530.75 installation fees So far, with the Kwik Trip and Packard donations, about $66,000 (or 80%) has been raised, Hansen said. This includes $11,000 from the PHS Football Club and $5,000 in pledges from parents and other teams.

PHS plans to acquire expanded squat racks, glute-ham developers, cable machines and new flooring. Hansen said the current design causes issues during group workouts. Lack of equipment makes for long wait lines and wasted time.

The current flooring is 8mm thick and doesn’t allow for compound lifts, Hansen said. Lifters must use raised platforms, which take up valuable space. The new flooring will contain padding and at 10.5mm thick, will allow platforms to be built in. Weights could hit the ground and not rip up the flooring. The current flooring is also hard to mop and sticky. Dirt gets trapped in the pores, resulting in additional wear and tear on the equipment.

Adding a turf section will play an important role in the speed development program, especially in the winter when getting outside is impossible. Turf will allow Hansen to add speed and agility programming (which is currently done in the hallways when the gym isn’t available), sled pushes and explosiveness training.

For the past few years, the district has had a vision centered around creating more synchronous programming between PE classes, strength and conditioning classes, out-of-season athletics, in-season athletics and summer programming, said PHS Principal Josh Fiege. Objectives include: 1. Maximization of the current weight room space for larger groups 2. To create a facility that serves to further the instructional and strength and conditioning goals of the high school 3. Retain current equipment to upgrade and add to the fitness areas for other grade levels 4. Use current equipment to create a sensory room for special needs students and adaptive PE classes The program is trying to educate kids to develop lifelong health and functional fitness skills, Fiege said. Another goal is to create a more seamless program to improve athlete performance.

Hansen said when he joined the district 1.5 years ago, about 10 kids were “truly invested” in using the weight room every day. That number has since tripled. He spoke about two girls “glowing in weight training class,” who are proud of their progress and developing confidence.

If the purchase orders are submitted to Eau Claire vendor Dynamic Fitness, which comes highlight recommended by surrounding districts, by Jan. 14, equipment and flooring installation could take place during spring break. Fundraising will continue to make up the remaining 20% of the cost.

Personnel

The board approved the following personnel changes:

•Hire: Katie Geiger, eighth grade math teacher

•Resignations: special education teacher Matt Sachs (Malone Intermediate) and eighth grade math teacher Cassie Smith