Girl Scout cadets ask Monroe-Woodbury board to help fund Gaga pit at North Main

Two Girl Scout cadets asked the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District Board of Education on Oct. 8 to consider funding for a Gaga pit at North Main Elementary.

"My name is Charlotte Whitrock," said Charlotte, introducing the pair; Juliana Ferrara identified herself as an eighth grader and a member of Girl Scout Troop 599. The students said they have partnered with Mr. Davis and Ms. Greenblatt and with Mackenzie, a middle-school health teacher who helped lead the middle-school Gaga pit project.

The cadets described Gaga ball as a fast-paced, noncontact game played in an enclosed pit that they said supports inclusive play, adaptive physical education and social skills. "It can work well for students with mobility limitations, sensory needs, or those who might be overwhelmed by traditional team sports," one speaker said.

They said a vendor used by the middle school quoted approximately $4,400 for a pit at North Main and reported $540 raised so far through school fundraisers. "We have come to the board to humbly ask that you help us financially make this project a success," Juliana said, and asked to meet with district staff to discuss next steps.

Board members did not make a decision at the meeting; the request was presented during the public-comment period and the students said they would welcome a follow-up discussion.

What happens next: The request will be handled through the district's standard follow-up process for public-comment requests; the cadets asked to meet with district staff and the board to explore funding options and logistics.