Nelson County board approves Boston School—s outdoor classroom design after presentation on —Brain Gym—

Principal Nikki King told the Nelson County Board of Education on Nov. 11 that Boston School—s new "Brain Gym" learning model has become a daily practice for students and a focal point for classroom rotations such as music, technology and leadership. The board met at Boston School and heard a separate capstone design for an outdoor classroom to be sited near the school—s nature trail.

"The Brain Gym is where the magic happens," Principal King said, describing a program of daily practice, targeted repetitions and reflective assessment intended to meet a range of learners using multiple-intelligences approaches.

The student-produced design calls for a roughly 30-foot-by-30-foot concrete pad near an existing fire pit, a bird blind, raised gardens, a three-swing ring for caregiver observation and a bullfrog-pond deck, adjacent to a 0.7-mile walking trail. King said the project would be built in phases, with the PTA and a private donor providing funds and some materials and labor expected as donations. For upkeep, King said students would help maintain plantings in coordination with school staff.

Board members asked about long-term maintenance and whether sufficient funds had been raised. King said funds raised by the PTA and a private donor, plus donated labor and materials, cover the initial phases and that the landscape architect broke the work into phases to manage cost.

Following discussion, a board member moved to approve the design to integrate the outdoor classroom with the nature trail. The motion was seconded and the board voted in favor; the design approval passed.

The approval authorizes the school to move forward with the design as presented; the board did not vote on construction contracts or specific spending authorizations at the Nov. 11 meeting. Next steps cited by staff include phased construction, continued fundraising and coordination with maintenance staff on long-term upkeep.

The board also heard that the Brain Gym has expanded at Boston School into a branded set of activities and that a mascot has emerged as part of the program—s community visibility.