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Parent tells Gilpin County board the wrestling cabin is unsafe, urges new mats and facilities
Summary
At a board meeting, parent Russ Thompson described unsanitary, cramped conditions in the district’s wrestling cabin, citing old mats, possible mold, rodent waste and no working bathroom or girls’ changing space; trustees said staff will follow up.
Russ Thompson, a parent, told the Gilpin County School District No. Re-1 Board of Education that the district’s wrestling cabin is unsafe and insufficient for the program.
Thompson said the cabin lacks a working bathroom, is too small for regulation mats and shows signs of vermin and mold. “The mats are old…there’s pack rat feces and urine downstairs,” Thompson said, adding that the room’s 30-by-30 footprint is too small for the 38-by-38 mat area coaches expect.
Why it matters: Thompson said cramped, unsanitary conditions have discouraged participation and created safety concerns. He told trustees that some girls left the program because there is no private locker room or running water to wash eyes or clothing after practice.
Parents also described travel burdens when there is no district bus for distant meets, saying families pay for hotels and carpool to ensure athletes can compete. Thompson said parents have discussed petitions and some local businesses have pledged money to help the program.
Board reaction: Trustees acknowledged the complaints and told parents staff would look for short- and medium-term fixes. “We’ll get it figured out,” a board member told commentators, and the board discussed options such as using another gym space or acquiring new mats.
Next steps: The board asked staff to follow up with details and to work with parents and coaches to identify solutions; the meeting record shows the board acknowledged community willingness to help but did not commit a specific funding source at this session.
