BELLE — Belle Elementary School (BES) ordered a new jungle-gym set April 12 to replace one of three pieces of equipment at the school’s playground, following a $5,800 donation from the …
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BELLE — Belle Elementary School (BES) ordered a new jungle-gym set April 12 to replace one of three pieces of equipment at the school’s playground, following a $5,800 donation from the Belle Fair Board last week.
BHS Principal Vanessa Feeler said in March that the district needed to replace at least two of the three jungle-gyms, including the 10-year-old set, the youngest of the three sets, that is about to be taken down.
“We ordered them on Friday and they should be ready in four to six weeks,” Feeler said.
Previously, Feeler had estimated it would cost around $40,000 to replace all three sets, but she was focused on one set at a time. Knowing the newest set would cost the district around $16,000, she let the public know that there was a need. Those who responded included the Vienna-Bassett Fraternal Order of the Eagles Club No. 4340 with a $5,000 donation; the Belle Fair Board with $5,800; a private donor contributed $500; and the remaining amount for the $16,021 jungle-gym came from the BES budget for equipment.
“The school usually covers shipping, about $996,” Feeler said. “But since it is so much, we plan to go pick it up in Lynette.”
Feeler said the district plans to install the equipment after summer school has ended. However, their work is far from over, as they still need to replace the padding beneath the new jungle gym, completely replace the oldest 30-year-old set, and have just completed work on the 15-year-old set.
The Advocate previously reported the 15-years-old set needed to have metal plates replaced. Since the March interview, Chris Mertz, BHS agriculture and science instructor who offered to have his metal work class fabricate plates to replace the broken ones on the second oldest play set, has had them painted by Daryl White at White’s Motors, and installed.
“They are better than the ones they replaced,” Feeler said Monday.
Feeler has high hopes that the district will be able to complete the work on the new jungle-gym, purchase the padding, and replace the oldest jungle-gym in the next two years.
“We still have $200 in the equipment budget after this,” Feeler said. “We plan to start fresh.”
Feeler said they plan to purchase new jump ropes, bases, and other new sporting equipment for the 2019-20 school year.
