HSTAT’s gym is used by over 1,000 students a day. It is a practice space for six sport teams and is a host for at least twelve basketball games a season.
Inconsistent ventilation, damaged padding on the walls of the gym and low ceilings can make the gym feel both overwhelming and sometimes maybe even a little unsafe.
Because of our gym’s dimensions, Girls and Boys Volleyball teams are not allowed to have home games. This means that they have to travel for all 10 games of the season, and that number increases if they make it to the playoffs. The space also limits the amount of spectators allowed for our basketball teams home games, which always seems to be a point of contention amongst students and parents.
Being that our gym is in the basement of our building, there are some space constraints that are impossible to ignore. However, this does not change the fact that the gym’s conditions have a direct impact on both students and teachers.
“We can barely work in here” says long time Physical Education teacher and Varsity Boys Volleyball coach Mr. Morton.
Complaints of the incredibly high temperatures in the gym have also lead to decreased work ethic for students when they are in class. “It feels horrible. Running in my own school covered in sweat like that is disappointing” expressed a student.
What’s the hold up on renovations?
After talking to Assistant Principal of Organization, Mr. De Martini, the problem is not as easy to fix as it sounds.
The truth is that the school has been collecting funds since 2013 from a number of foundations. In the last ten years we have amassed $2,000,000.
We have the money to make the renovations to our gym. Now we are waiting on permits from the city to see what we can modernize in our over 100 year old basement.
Mr. De Martini also shared that at one point in time the school’s idea was to lower the floor of the gym as well, but that became almost impossible when the school learned there was equipment under the floor that couldn’t be moved and that digging was “cost prohibitive.”
As the school waits for construction to begin, we have seen an effort to improve it. The school custodians have leveled bumps on the gym floor, collected funding, and begun meeting with architects, but there is much more work to do.
When asked about his biggest motivation for renovating the gym Mr. De Martini responded with “The gym is our only shortcoming… our kids deserve it.”
Administration hopes the extensive project will be done by 2025.
