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Resident asks Maxwell board to reopen high-school gym; trustees ask staff to draft liability plan
Summary
A resident urged the Maxwell board to reinstate community 'open gym' hours, offering volunteers and a waiver template; trustees endorsed exploring the idea but asked staff to resolve liability, waiver, supervision and insurance questions before returning the item to the board.
A local resident told the Maxwell Municipal Schools board she and other parents want the district to reopen the high-school gym for community open hours, saying neighborhood youth travel to neighboring towns to play and that volunteers are ready to supervise.
"I'm here tonight on behalf of our students and community to request the reinstatement of open gym sessions at our school," the resident (Speaker 8) said, adding that opening the gym would require "almost no district resources" and that she would volunteer to help supervise and manage waivers.
Board members responded with a mix of support and practical caution. Chair (Speaker 1) and other trustees said they welcomed the idea but raised several operational issues: who would sign waivers, how to verify supervision and keys, insurance and liability coverage, age limits to avoid very young unsupervised children, and cleanup. Clerk (Speaker 3) noted she could not speak for insurance but perceived no obvious obstacle if waiver and supervision arrangements were formalized.
Committee members (Speakers 5 and 6) suggested limiting access, requiring a roster of approved supervisors, and scheduling separate times for the weight room and the gym to reduce cross-traffic and liability risks. The resident offered a waiver example from a Shiprock district and urged the trustees to consider a once-or-twice-a-week arrangement to start.
The board did not adopt a policy at the meeting but directed staff and trustees to consult with the village, review insurance coverage and draft a written plan addressing waivers, supervision rosters, age limits and cleanup procedures. Chair (Speaker 1) asked staff to return the logistical plan for board consideration at the next regular meeting.
The board's action leaves the community's request open for further review rather than immediately approving access; trustees repeatedly emphasized that any open-gym program must have signed waivers and designated supervisors in place before opening the facilities to the public.
