By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
HUDSON ¡ª The Hudson school district is facing a decision concerning its fitness center. Located in the annex behind the high school, the center has been open to the public for several years and operated by the Lenawee Health Alliance. The LHA has informed Hudson it is no longer economically feasible to operate it, however.
¡°We had a goal to open it up to the community, but we were unable to do it ourselves, so LHA took it over,¡± superintendent Kathy Malnar said. ¡°Membership is very low. There are things that could be done to bring in people, but there was never any marketing.¡±
A letter received Aug. 29 informed the district that the LHA will discontinue staffing the Hudson Fitness Connection after Sept. 28.
With no specific programs or supervision, the center has had a shrinking membership, Malnar said. At its peak, she said, the center had fewer than 100 members.
Several questions need to be answered before the board makes its decision, she said. One concerns the equipment.
¡°I¡¯m concerned about the age of the equipment,¡± trustee Marsha Evenson said. ¡°Are we getting to an age where significant repairs are needed?¡±
Malnar said the treadmill and elliptical machines are getting to that point. She said the equipment is not suitable for elementary-age students and is geared toward eighth grade and older.
The lack of marketing has been coupled with a shortage of specific programs and knowledgeable people, Malnar said. She said the LHA has had a significant turnover in its wellness programs, even while running the Fitness Connection in Tecumseh.
¡°If you are going to run a fitness center, you have to have trained staff to help people,¡± Malnar said.
Trustee Mike Borton suggested talking with Onsted officials to see how their fitness center is doing. That center was opened at Onsted High School and is operated by the school district, but is open to the public for memberships. Malnar said she will investigate further and bring more answers back to the board at its October meeting.
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