St. Charles school board OKs high-tech fitness program

After much discussion, the St. Charles school board in a 4-3 vote adopted a wellness program to begin next school year.

The wellness program is designed to provide students in grades six through 12 with the skills, attitude, knowledge and behavior necessary for lifelong fitness.

While board members supported the philosophy behind the wellness program, several expressed apprehension based on program equipment cost.

"The question is, is it (technology) necessary for the program to succeed?" said board member James Chimienti.

To be included in the program are downloadable heart rate monitors and computer software. The equipment is expected to cost approximately $170,000.

"The intent is for students to be self-aware of their own fitness needs," explained Superintendent Donald Schlomann.

Chimienti along with board members Scott Nowling and Karla Ray voted no on the measure.

The urgency to approve the program revolved around including the curriculum in next year's high school course catalogs. The catalogs must be printed in time to hand out to current eighth-graders in six weeks.

At one point during the discussion, board members considered tabling the program's technology portion and approving the other programs which include textbooks, health, physical education, professional development and cardiovascular.

"I would prefer to be a couple weeks late on this decision and deliver a program that's intact," said board member Lori Linkimer.

Additional concerns about the program included whether or not it was necessary to purchase kayaks for one of the courses.