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Why do we need a second gym as part of the DES building plan?
We need a second gym for physical education classes. Elementary students should have a thirty minute physical education class daily per board policy in compliance with the state's physical education requirements. The gym is available for classes from 8:15am to 3:00pm, which is a total of six hours and 45 minutes per day. Presently there are 24 classes at Dodgeville Elementary, which would require twelve hours of gym time per day. Many days our physical education teachers share the gym teaching two classes at one time. They may also use the cafeteria or outdoors, weather permitting. The curriculum activities scheduled for the respective grade levels at any given time may not always allow the creative ways our staff attempts to meet the PE requirements.
As our enrollment continues to grow following the conservative projections used in the school board's study, five more classes would require 14.5 hours of gym time daily. An additional gym would provide a more appropriate location and environment for physical education classes and would enable all students access.
Physical education is more than recess and is an important part of the curriculum. It teaches physical skills, safety, cooperation, team play, appropriate competition, fitness, and healthy leisure time activities. It develops coordination, strength, agility, problem solving, healthy decision making and intellectual growth. It is an important and required curriculum. In a nation where obesity is a prominent health issue, keeping children active and confident in their physical skills sets the stage for their further development of life-long physical activity and wellness habits.
An additional benefit of a second gym is greater community access to the gym for recreation, programs and performances, group and organizational meetings.  The community has the ability to use school facilities according to district policy.  The additional gym will help foster an active, healthy community environment.