Rates, hours set for LISD fitness center
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

Louise school trustees worked up a plan Monday night for use of their new fitness center by both students and the community, a facility which should open by the end of the month.

After much deliberation, Louise ISD's board set initial fees and hours for use by the public, times and costs which can be adjusted if they don't work out.

"This is something to start with," Trustee Mark Wendel said.

Once open, the center will be available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., except when in use by the district. Use of the facility will be free for district employees, and their spouses may use the center for $30 per quarter. Louise ISD students from the junior high and high school may use the center for free, but must be accompanied by an adult.

The community may use the fitness center for $60 per quarter per person, or $100 per quarter for two adults from the same home.

Children below junior high age are not allowed to use the facility, or accompany adults there.

Entry to the center will be by a credit-card-sized access card. Alarms will be installed as well as cameras, which will record all angles of the facility to help deter vandalism or other crimes.

Louise ISD is creating the center, at a cost of about $57,000, to accommodate fitness gear it bought with a $200,000 federal grant for physical education equipment and teacher training.

In September, trustees decided to put the center in space in the old gym, which has room for dance or other fitness classes for the public when not in use by students.

Superintendent Andy Peters told trustees the center should be open for use before the board's next regular meeting on March 17.