Pushback Intensifies Over Having More Swings and Recess In Washoe County Schools
A ban on installing new swings in Washoe County schools which has been in effect over a quarter century for local schools due to prior safety concerns will be under discussion at Tuesday’s board meeting, with growing pressure from several Trustees and parents to revoke it.
"In anticipation of potential new designs and construction projects the Board of Trustees approved the Educational Specifications (EdSpecs) for our future Elementary Schools and Middle Schools in late 2016. This item is presented at the request of Trustees Beth Smith and Colleen Westlake and is specifically related to the outdoor facility elements of the EdSpecs, and follows feedback and discussion including, but not limited to, practices and aspects of shade and swings on our school grounds," Agenda Item 4.06 indicates.
An email we received today from Megan Manguso called for “positive advocacy” related to swings and more generally outdoor school areas and recess policies. There have been concerns from parents at Roy Gomm and other schools over recess now being just paired up with lunch with reduced overall times, as well as non functioning swings no longer being replaced.
The email listed as its goals: “Lifting the ban on swings and revising all playground designs in development to include swings
— Setting a new district standard ensuring outdoor areas with more shade structures and trees
— Formalizing specifications for outdoor play areas mandating a full variety of play equipment (e.g., slides, actual climbing structures, swings, etc) and play spaces (e.g., four square, basketball court, wall ball, soccer pitches, etc) for all ages and abilities. This includes separate areas for pre-k/kinder, 1st & 2nd, and 3rd through 5th grade.
— Make it clear that unstructured outdoor play is critical to children’s wellbeing and academic success. Play is learning for kids.”
Washoe County School District elementary school students get a minimum of 100 minutes of recess per week, according to school officials, while over in Carson City, a recent proposal to reduce daily recess time there for elementary students by one-third caused anger from some parents, with the parent pushback for more and better recess regional wide.
Another issue causing concerns from parents has been a practice by many schools of forcing children to eat lunch without having tables where they face each other.
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