Allison Traditional Magnet students play volleyball in a crowded gymnasium. Due to lack of space, not all students can participate at the same time.

PE facilities - "These are our classrooms"
Improving aging PE facilities is one of the critical needs with the $370 million bond issue on the Nov. 4 ballot. With increasing childhood obesity rates, it is important that students have adequate facilities to be physically active. There are also numerous studies show that students who are physically active do better in school. Every middle and high school student is required to take at least one PE class, but many students choose to take more classes.

"We want our kids to be healthy and we want our kids do well in school," said Karla Stenzel, PE teaching specialist. "We need to have the best spaces possible for our kids to be active."

"These are our classrooms. We have a curriculum we have to follow," said Rhonda Holt, PE teaching specialist. "Swimming is part of the high school PE curriculum. Students run and walk on the track as part of a unit. Students use the tennis courts to learn not only tennis, but other hand-eye coordination skills. They are used by students every day, all day long."

"But they aren't in good shape. There is not enough space and the facilities are showing their age," Holt said.

Many of the district middle and high schools were built in the 1950’s and 1960’s—at a time when girls had few P.E. classes and girls’ athletics was not offered at all. The need and demand for the activities have grown but the facilities have not. Most of the middle and high school gymnasiums are too small to accommodate PE classes.

Many middle schools would get a practice gym, which would allow more room for PE classes. Currently, middle schools may have more than 60 students in a class at one time, which creates cramped quarters.

"There's not much space for these children when you're trying to get them to move," said Melanie Moore, PE teacher at Allison. "We don't have the room to give kids a good workout."

"When you have more room, you have more opportunities for students to participate instead of sitting on the sidelines," said David Monger, PE teacher at Allison. "Having all students active during class is important not only for their health, but we have fewer discipline issues."

North High School PE classes can't use the old cinder track after it rains. All-weather tracks can still be used by students in wet weather.

"We are responsible for teaching these students knowledge and skills so they will choose to be physically active on their own time," Moore said. "We work to change their perspective that physical activity is enjoyable so they will stay healthy their whole lives."

"Having the right classrooms to teach students those skills is imperative,' Monger said.

Many of the new PE spaces will also serve as FEMA safe room storm shelters. The facilities also benefit the community which uses them on weekends and evenings for activities.

"We have church groups and community teams that rent our gyms on the weekends, neighbors walk on our tracks and play on our tennis courts. The improvements will benefit everyone," Holt said.

Other critical needs of the bond issue are reduce class sizes and address overcrowding; construct 60 safe room storm shelters, support the end to forced busing, upgrades to technical education programs and renovate or rebuild aging and unsafe athletic and fine arts facilities.

More information about the bond issue can be found on the Wichita Public Schools' website.

It's about Our Kids, Our Schools and Our Future!