Charlotte Whitrock, an eighth grader at Monroe-Woodbury Middle School and Girl Scout cadet with Troop 599, asked the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education on Oct. 8 to help fund a Gaga pit at North Main so younger students would have an accessible play option when they get to middle school.

The girls said the pit would support inclusive play and motor-skill development. "For our project, we are partnering with Mr. Davis and Ms. Greenblatt to build a Gaga pit for the students at North Main," Juliana Ferrara, an eighth grader and Girl Scout cadet, told the board. Ferrara described Gaga ball as "a fun and fast paced game" that helps students develop agility, hand-eye coordination and social connection through constant rotation of players.

The presenters said they had consulted the middle-school staff who installed that school's pit, identified the vendor used there and priced the North Main pit at approximately $4,400. "So why are we here tonight? Well to ask you for money of course," Ferrara said, adding that the troop had raised about $540 to date through school fundraisers. They asked the board to consider a financial contribution and offered to discuss the project further at a later time.

The request came during the board's public comment period; board members did not take formal action on the request during the meeting.

The students noted accessibility benefits for children with mobility limitations and for students with individualized education plans. The presenters said rules can be adjusted to accommodate different abilities and that the noncontact game can reduce anxiety for some students.

No budget source was proposed on the record; the girls said North Main "does not currently have the budget to fund this project," and that fundraising would continue. The board did not vote on the request during the Oct. 8 meeting.