High school students advocate for younger classmates

NEW LONDON — New London Community School District lists old playground equipment for sale as they move forward with plans for replacement.

Following an initial presentation from New London’s College Level Technical Writing class, the New London Community School District decided to move forward replacing playground equipment.

According to a representative from the district, this class began looking into the need and possibility of replacing playground equipment last spring, and further expanded on this project this past September.

“This fall they expanded on their data findings, including observations during recess time, interviews with K-5 kids as well as reaching out to neighboring districts about their playgrounds,” the district informed the public.

At the Nov. 21 school board meeting, students, along with their instructor Allison Lair, the students presented their findings.

With the intent of improving the current playground, safety, physical health of students, fitness, and accessibility for all grade levels while staying within a reasonable budget, students presented a well thought out plan.

According to the Technical Writing class, the district installed the equipment in question 24 years ago.

“We are looking to buy a new play set for our PreK-5 students in order to update the playground and to make it more safe,” they wrote in a proposal to the board. “We also hope that by adding more climbing equipment we will enhance our students’ physical well-being.”

“The only piece of equipment that had been updated was the swing set back when the track and field was redone six years ago,” the district said.

Students Ines Veschembes, Kylee Davis, and Amanda Shane found that students kindergarten-second grade most often utilized the monkey bars, but often neglected slides.

These younger students also expressed to Veschembes, Davis, and Shane that they would enjoy more swings with fewer bars creating separation as they wanted to swing next to their friends.

Boden Pickle and Logan Gallup found that third-fifth grade students also preferred swings and monkey bars to slides.

“The majority of students agreed that they would like a jungle gym,” Pickle and Gallup included in their presentation to the board.

As the high school students continued to dive into their research for this project, Leo Gebauer, Lucas Borton, and Max Stanbary gathered data about how many students and from which grade levels utilized which parts of the current playground equipment.

“Students enjoyed the playground surface for games, the swings, and the climbing equipment,” they concluded from their observations. “Lastly, many students desired a way to play ball. They enjoy the basketball hoops. Many students also enjoyed the open spaces for imaginative games.”

According to the Technical Writing class’s research, the cost of a new playground would come in at $187,267 including apparatus, new adjustable basketball hoops, a new set of swings, and a ground cover.

“In addition to the new playground area will have a rubber coated base for fall protection instead of the loose wood chips that are currently in place,” the district informed the community. “We are also adding two more basketball hoops that are adjustable for younger students and a Gaga pit which has become a very popular game for all ages.”

In order to best steward the taxpayer money which went to purchasing this equipment, the district will first sell what they have before looking into recycling or donating it.

The district listed the various equipment for sale on their Facebook page. For more information please contact Superintendent Chad Wahls at chad.wahls@nlcsd.org

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com