by Thaddeus Flint
The Berlin School Board held a special informational meeting on February 6 in an effort to determine the public’s interest in using the District’s facilities outside of the normal school day.
[private]There was not much interest from the public. Only about six residents came to a tour of the available facilities, with two being representatives of the Taconic Valley Youth Basketball program who already use the gym and locker rooms at the High School/Middle School.
“There is a lot of potential use here for the entire community,” pointed out the District’s Superintendent, Dr. Stephen Young, as he showed the various rooms and facilities that could be made available to the public.
The Board has for several months now been working to draft a public use policy for the facilities. Board Member Gina Goodermote, in particular, has been looking for greater insight as to what the public might like to do with the buildings before any proposal is completed and voted on. Gauging the public’s interest is also needed in putting together next year’s budget.
Dr. Young, school administrators and the Board showed the public three rooms – The Distance Learning Lab, the Business Computer Lab and the fitness room.
The Distance Learning Lab allows courses to be taught, obviously, from a distance. Students can see a teacher, who could be anywhere, as well as other linked classrooms on a large screen monitor. The teacher can see and hear the class through cameras and microphones in the room. This facility is largely used for AP classes where there might not be enough students to warrant a specialized instructor in the field. It can also be used for teaching to students in other places. The possibilities are endless if some group had a use for it. “It’s a service we could really open up to people if they had an organization that wanted to teach something,” said Dr. Young. “If you have something to get out to other people, we can do that here.”
The Business Computer Lab has rows of networked PCs that could be used to teach either computer courses or courses which are taught on the computer itself. One resident pointed out that she had once used this room as part of a preparation for a Civil Service exam. Right now there are various software packages installed that would allow an instructor to teach community members how to use Microsoft Word® or Excel®, for example, or “even how to update their resumes,” said Dr. Young.
The fitness room is also well furnished with expensive machines. It is used now by students and some faculty, but it could be used even more by the public. There are elliptical machines, stationary bikes, treadmills and weights.
“We should use this equipment before it becomes obsolete,” pointed out Board President Frank Zwack.
These three rooms, however, are “just the highlights,” said Dr. Young. There is also the auditorium if a group wanted to show movies. There is the gymnasium. Even the cafeteria could be provided if an organization found some use for it. “If you think of something that sparks your interest,” he added, “just let us know. There are a lot of possibilities.”
Groups and organizations whose interest has been sparked can contact Dr. Young at syoung@berlincentral.org with their ideas and proposals.[/private]