Shared from the 12/21/2017 Mon Valley Independent eEdition

Fitness center dream reality for Elizabeth Forward teacher

Teacher Dave Byers obtained a $10,000 grant as seed money for the project, and the school board matched it.

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Submitted Elizabeth Forward High School senior Julia Balogh, left, and junior Bailey Lindberg work out in the new fitness center.

Since he arrived at Elizabeth Forward High School six years ago, Dave Byers has sought grant money to establish a fitness center for students and faculty members.

This year, the health and physical education teacher has achieved his goal.

The new high school facility – with an array of fitness equipment – was funded in part by a $10,000 grant from the Highmark Foundation. The district provided an additional $10,000 for the project.

Byers continues to seek grants applications for the project.

“It serves as an action-based learning lab for students, where research shows student academic performance improves through fitness and exercise,” Byers said. “The room will function as a traditional fitness center for staff and community members with many mental, social and physical benefits.

“We plan to offer functional training, boot camp and kettle bell classes in the future.”

Discussions about a fitness facility began early on in Byers’ Elizabeth Forward career.

Over five years, the effort faced roadblocks, including finding space for the facility, but everything started to fall into place a year ago.

Principal Michael Routh and Byers worked together on details for the project, including whether the grant could be used for the facility.

Gaining support from Superintendent Dr. Bart Rocco and the school board was a crucial.

“Once we got the go-ahead from Dr. Rocco and the school board, it was just a matter of putting the right equipment in the room and making sure everything was laid out properly,” Byers said.

“Physical fitness is critical to the well-being of our students and staff,” Routh said. “The new fitness room is a welcome addition to our physical education program and will help us meet our wellness goals.”

The district contracted with Ithaca, N.Y.-based Advantage Sport & Fitness, which helped design the room. “We surveyed the staff here about what they would like in the room, and we tried to make it as well-rounded as possible,” Byers said.

The facility, which opened Dec. 6, features about a dozen cardio machines, 10 strength-training stations and state-of-the-art, interactive Expresso exercise bikes.

“The students or the staff can create their own accounts and pick different races,” Byers said. “They can pick mountain bike courses, they can pick road courses, they can pick Tour De France and they can challenge each other or they can just race against themselves.

“It just gives them a different experience other than just walking on the treadmill or using the elliptical.”

The facility includes surround sound, Bluetooth stereo system, flat screen televisions and mirrors.

Art students added personality to the room, painting murals that include encouraging phrases such as “Be stronger than your excuses.”

“The room really has a lot of life to it, a lot of energy and a lot of just upbeat, positive colors,” Byers said.

“We are just scratching the surface with what we want to do. I kind of look at it as an appetizer. If the appetizer goes over very well, then hopefully we will try to branch out and do something even bigger and better.”

During the school day, students attend fitness and aerobics classes. Staff members may use the facility before and after school.

“The nice thing is, the students and staff are able to work out independently,” Byers said.

“All of the feedback I have gotten so far is very positive.”

Byers is pleased to see the idea he had envisioned for so many years come alive, and he is especially excited to see students and colleagues benefit from the state-of-the-art fitness center. “You get a lot of personal gratification, but I am not one to look to take credit for anything. I try to keep a very humble approach,” Byers said. “My focus is just trying to do something positive for the students and staff here at EF.

“This is all about just creating another wellness opportunity and giving the students and faculty another outlet.”

“Physical fitness is critical to the well-being of our students and staff.”
MICHAEL ROUTH
PRINCIPAL

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