Monte Vista Middle School gets $75,000 fitness lab
'If they're not having fun, they're not going to move.' - Carol Springgate Physical education teacher
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers PEDAL PUSHERS- Monte Vista Middle School physical education teacher Carol Springgate, center, offers tips to seventhgraders Jackie Palma, left, and Yliana Ortega as they take a test drive on new spinning bicycles at the school last week. The school is assembling a fitness lab that will have exercise equipment similar to what is found in membership gyms.

Three years ago having a gym worthy of membership status at Monte Vista Middle School was only a dream for physical education teacher Carol Springgate.

Last week, the dream became a reality for the sixththrougheighth-grade school when 10 weight-resistance machines and two dozen spinning bicycles were delivered.

The school's $75,000 fitness lab will be complete when a large projection screen, floor mats, some two dozen exercise balls and other exercise equipment arrive soon.

"We're hoping to get the kids pumped (about exercise)," said Springgate, who has taught the benefits of working out to adolescents at Monte Vista for 24 years. "If they're not having fun, they're not going to move."

California gave school districts a one-time grant of $500 million for art, music and physical education programs last year. Pleasant Valley School District received $562,000 and gave $75,000 to each middle school, $5,000 to elementary schools and $25,000 to schools with both elementary and middle-school grades.

Darci Knight, director of categorical programs, said the money is "truly a blessing" and a surprise.

"With this one-time grant, it's like Christmas," Knight said. "Who knows when we'll see it again?"

Springgate and Knight were part of a 14member team of parents, district administrators and teachers who recommended a fitness lab, like the one forming at Monte Vista, for middle schools and a consistent physical education program at elementary schools.

The state barred school districts from using the money to pay for salaries or to build a facility; the money was to be used only for training teachers and buying equipment and supplies.

The onetime grant was provided in addition to money school districts have received for the last two years from the state for art and music instruction.

All Pleasant Valley schools have an instrumental music program. Beginning in third grade, students learn to play the flutophone, read notes and practice fingering techniques.

From fourth grade on, the students can learn to play marching band instruments, including the trumpet, French horn, flute and drums.

The district has used the additional state funds to replace worn-out instruments, repair broken ones and buy new instruments it doesn't have but that students want to play.

The committee, Knight said, knows students benefit by playing an instrument and wants to see the decades-old program thrive.

"Brain research makes very, very strong connections between learning how to play an instrument and advanced brain functions. . . . It's a huge help academically," Knight said.

Pleasant Valley received $112,000 for arts and music in 2006-07 and $116,000 this year. Next year, the district could receive $96,000, Knight said. But for now the exact amount of the ongoing grant is unknown because the state is forecasting budget cuts in the face of a $14billion shortfall.