Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Solanco officials seek solution to noise from weight room
BY ROXANNE TODD, Correspondent

Some Solanco High School students are finding it difficult to learn amid moving ceiling tiles and squeaky light fixtures.

Solanco School Board members agreed Monday that they have a problem at the high school. They are hoping the board's building and grounds committee will come up with a plan to reduce the noise in classrooms beneath the high school's weight room.

The problem began when concrete flooring in the weight room began to crumble. The floor was reinforced last year and the improvements reduced some of the noise. However, the classroom ceiling tiles continue to lift and resettle and lights go on and off.

"It's bad, plain and simple," said Brian Musser, a board member who has visited the classrooms during school hours.

"They are studying in there and trying to learn. I don't even know how the teacher keeps it on task," Musser added.

The worst times are first and second periods, when the downstairs classrooms are used for instructional purposes, and after school, when the classrooms may be used for tutoring or other activities.

"There is no easy answer within the confines of what we have today," said Steven Risk, a member of the building and grounds committee. Risk said he has looked at adding an addition to the building. He has worked with administrators to look at relocating the weight room to the old gymnasium.

"This has been discussed for several years now," Risk said. "It's time to move forward and do something about it."

Musser added, "I don't think leaving it as it is is an option."

Superintendent Martin Hudacs agreed.

"We have a situation we need to address," Hudacs said. "There's no doubt about it."

Board member Kurt Kreider said that "the instructional side needs to be the driving force." He said the future of extracurricular sports must be considered when making a decision.

In other business, the board accepted the resignation of Thomas Stauffer, the district's director of technology. The resignation is effective Thursday. Stauffer has accepted a position outside the district.

The board also hired William Clark as a long-term substitute principal at Quarryville Elementary School for the second semester. Clark is replacing James O'Brien, who is on a medical leave.

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