With the latest grant funding, students and staff at Oskaloosa (Iowa) High School are halfway to their goal of raising $170,000 to renovate the school’s weight room. The new space will include inlaid platforms with power racks, dumbbell benches, Olympic bars and aesthetic updates.
Brett Doud, director of human performance, told KBOE Radio, “The goal is for students to walk into a completely revamped facility when school resumes next fall.”
The school received funds from the George Daily Family Trust, Cargill Cares, the Oskaloosa Booster Club and the Mahaska County Community Foundation totaling $95,000.
“We’re saving eight power racks, along with multiple barbells, bumper plates, and two cable machines for the middle school,” Doud said. “Eventually, we would like to see dedicated weight rooms at both campuses in an effort to create functional training space for students in both buildings.”
In the past few years, Oskaloosa High School has seen an increase in the number of students interested in using the weight room. Doud estimates that in the years prior, only 50 students trained in the weight room each week. Now, he says at least 300 students use the space in any given week.
“We’re working with 20-35 kids in the room at any given time,” Doud said. “The new layout will improve safety and functionality, making it easier for students to move freely around the room from one movement to the next.”
Oskaloosa has already adjusted programming requirements to allow students to use the weight room during physical education classes. This change reduced the number of students coming to the weight room early in the morning or after school hours.
“Every day and every opportunity matters as we push toward our ultimate goal of developing lifetime wellness habits in all students who train in our facility,” said Doud. “This investment shows not only the tremendous support we have from our school leaders but also our community and neighboring partners. We are so grateful and thankful for the support.”
