Wheeler Middle School Weight Room Will Be Ready for New School Year
The lobby of the Stapleton Gym at Wheeler County School is being remodeled for a new function starting next term.
The Wheeler County Board of Education, which met in a regular session Monday, June 9, received an update on the project to turn gym space into a weight room for middle school students and girls’ sports teams. Director of School System Facilities Greg Wilcher told the Board that the gym space makeover will be completed in August and includes floor padding for safety and durability, additional air conditioning, new walls and doors, and other modifications, including a new water fountain.
One side of the space at the front of the gymnasium will continue to serve as an entrance for community events, and an existing concession stand was retained for this purpose; but during the school week the room will accommodate classroom space for weight training beginning next school year.
Wilcher said weightlifting equipment for the new space was donated to Wheeler by the Vidalia School System, which is purchasing new equipment for its high school weight room.
In other business during the session, the Board approved a minor revision to its facilities use policy to accommodate public use of the Stapleton gym. The district allows community use of its facilities/grounds for events which meet specific criteria.
Additionally, the Board approved a $19,867.50 expenditure to supply 18 new computers for the administrative and nursing services suites at the school.
Wheeler Schools Superintendent Dr. C. Alex Alvarez provided the Board with some good news regarding disciplinary actions at the school. Dr. Alvarez said reports for the past school year revealed in-school suspensions were down by 57%; outof- school suspensions decreased by 32.8%; suspension from riding the bus decreased by 92%; fighting decreased by 43%; student incivility decreased 55.8%; and use of electronic smoking devices decreased by 55.2%. Consistency in the enforcement of the school’s discipline code was cited as the catalyst for this change.
Dr. Alvarez noted that administration and staff met with the 8th-12th grade student advisory team and discussed topics ranging from school safety to the dress code. The Superintendent said one of the changes coming in the new term is the banning of all footwear that does not have a closed heel. He said the policy, which will also apply to teachers and school staff, is being changed in the interest of safety. “We will allow crocs, but with a back strap,” he said. Discussion about clothing included modifications to the dress code relating to leggings. The Superintendent said leggings will only be allowed if covered by a dress, skirt, shorts or other appropriate clothing.
Also, during the session, the Board approved the following personnel changes: resignation of John Bass, bus driver; appointment of Le’la Wright as community coach for basketball; the hiring of Jordan Sewell as transportation director; and the hiring of Rachel Sellers as lunchroom manager.
Prior to the meeting the second public hearing on the proposed FY26 school budget was held. The next hearing is scheduled for June 23, after which a called meeting will be held for official Board action on the budget.
The next regular Board meeting will be held on July 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board office.
