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Board ratifies Schwenksville Elementary hammock garden; members press for safety details
Summary
The Perkiomen Valley board approved an outdoor hammock garden at Schwenksville Elementary funded mainly by a $20,000 DCED grant, while board members asked administration to clarify age groups, supervision and number/style of hammocks.
The Perkiomen Valley School District Board of School Directors ratified an outdoor hammock garden at Schwenksville Elementary, funded through a $20,000 Pennsylvania DCED grant, with the school covering the remaining $1,088.27 of the $21,088.27 total project cost.
During discussion board members raised safety and supervision questions, particularly about which age groups would use the hammocks and whether a single teacher could supervise an entire class. Superintendent Doctor Russell described the hammock style and the supervision plan: "they are the type that students lie in. They're pretty low to the ground, and what the principal did share with me is that students will always be supervised when they're able to use the hammocks for reading and they will be brought in when school is not in session."
A staff member reported the number of hammocks planned: "30," which the administration said would serve a class. Board members asked administration to confirm whether hammocks would be used by kindergarten students or limited to older elementary grades. The administration said it would obtain further details on hammock count and age groups and pass them to the principal for implementation.
The motion to ratify the project was approved by voice vote. The board recorded that safety and supervision protocols would be finalized before widespread student use.
