No New Fitness Court for D-R

The School Committee rejected plans for a new outdoor fitness court at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School.

The court would have been used primarily for stretching exercises.

“We believe it would be good for the community and for the schools,” said Robert Baxter, the Business Administrator for the school district.

Baxter told the school committee about the benefits of the court at their August 22 meeting. 

“We are constantly looking for ways to enhance the image of the high school,” said Superintendent Bill Runey. “I think something like this would be very eye-catching.”

Baxter noted a new court would attract new students and staff, in addition to augmenting aging athletic facilities.

Committee vice-chair Chris Andrade said it didn’t seem like the “right time” to move ahead with the project, considering the other needs in the district.

 “I see this as a beautiful project, but I also see that the optics are terrible,” said Dighton Selectman Leonard Hull, noting he had met with parents and members of the teachers’ union in the past.

“They asked for money and were told the money wasn’t available,” Hull noted.

The overall cost for the equipment is $155,000.  The court would have been situated on Regional Road so it can be visible to the community, Baxter explained. Installation was to begin in the Spring of 2024.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts had provided a $50,000 grant for the project. An additional $43,000 in grants and the donation of a concrete slab would also have been used to defray expenses. A community fundraising effort would have been launched to pay for the remainder of the project, along with money from the high school facilities budget and in-kind donations.

“The School Committee’s decision was sage given the timing and optics,” Runey said on Friday. “I’m just pleased that our new Grant-writer, Renee Moorby, is already demonstrating her value to the District. One of my goals is to eventually codify fundraising efforts for the District. If that comes to fruition, perhaps we could have another chance at a similar project.”