NHS Bidders Need

To Sharpen Their Pencils

To the Editor:

I was shocked, dismayed, and upset to read in last week’s paper that because of lack of funds for the overall high school expansion project that it might be possible that the gym expansion could be cut [“Refined HS Project May Drop Gym Expansion,” page 1]. As a longtime coach who has been in the school for the last ten winters, the lack of space in the current gym, locker rooms, showers, bathrooms, is a serious problem that won’t go away. Not to mention lack of adequate storage space for expensive exercise and sports equipment.

Unfortunately this situation is an embarrassment compared to other nearby high schools. The lack of space severely limits the number of students who can chose to participate in the winter sport programs and limits the quality of these programs for the ones that do. This leaves a lot of time for our students to possibly get into drugs. Not to mention childhood obesity and lack of physical maturity for the future. The boys’ locker room and showers are outdated. Very few of our student athletes shower after practices. Remember last year’s MRSA scare? If we are in this position due to increased student enrolment, does it make sense to increase classroom space only? Does anyone think the lack of winter indoor athletic space is going to go away? The future cost of dealing with this current problem will dwarf the expense freed up by cutting the gym expansion now.

History has shown that the majority of society’s most well-rounded successful leaders trace their physical and mental maturity back to competitive high school sports.

I agree with Will Rogers that rebidding the project might make the most sense. Remember that the town is the customer and the economic environment has vastly changed since the previous bids were received. As a local businessman I have had to sharpen my pencil; maybe the bidders should do the same.

Alan Potter

22 Eden Hill Road, Newtown                                    October 26, 2008