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The safety of hockey continues to progress See more on page 5
Taking a trip to a new reality—Oculus Rift is a new way to play video games See more on page 6
Safety does not have to be a luxury Volume 47 Issue 6 March 2015 820 Spring St. Grand Ledge MI 517-925-5848
Delta Center students will not get a new playground now that the bond did not pass
kids to play on.” Katie Twarozynski ‘17 Metcalf was quite disappointed when the bond did not pass because now many parts of Copy Editor the district will not receive all of the funding Before registered voters turned in their they needed. With no money, the elementary ballots on Feb. 24, Delta Center students held schools that need new playgrounds will not their own version of the democratic process. be getting them. Students from Delta Center were given three The bond not only would have helped with choices to vote on for the new playground new equipment, it would have helped with equipment that would be built if the bond heating systems in buildings in the district passed. But, it didn’t. For two schools in and athletes getting their new fields. Grand Ledge, Delta Center and Wacousta “There is no money to get new playground Elementary, new playgrounds are not in equipment for either Delta Center or the budget. While it was announced Wacousta,” Metcalf said. “We have GMB by administration, before the Architects inspect the playgrounds. They bond vote, that Wacousta have someone certified to do this and they Elementary’s beloved use a state manual that outlines safety “Dream Depot” would most requirements and guidelines.” likely be disassembled due Safety is truly important for children to it being unsafe, the depot who play on equipment and the burden on will be re-inspected to see if parents’ wallets. In New York, injuries on it can remain where it is for playgrounds cost taxpayers 20 million dollars students. in the last decade. Parents have also filed “There are no plans to 577 claims against the Parks Department replace the playground at according to a comptroller report from the Delta Center,” Scott Eckhart, New York Post. principal at Delta Center, said. “The personal injury claims jumped 53 “The current structures on the percent from fiscal year 2005 to 2014,” playground will remain in place until the Comptroller Scott Stringer said. “Most district receives adequate funding to replace accidents are skinned knees or elbows, but the outdated/not-up-to-code ones.” sometimes much more serious incidents Since there are no new plans for new occur.” equipment, students will continue to play on Recess is very important for a child’s the current structures available. Even though development in elementary school. According the playground is old, Eckhart believes that it to Beulah Erhiawarien, the coordinator of is still safe to play on. Kaboom, a nonprofit organization to get “Our district does a nice job of children playing in America, 80 percent of maintaining and fixing the principals report that recess has a positive playground when there is impact on academic achievement. These a need,” Eckhart said. facts are important to keep in mind when “Students will still play the schools decide to keep or destroy their outside on our playground playground equipment. structures.” “Children deprived of play can show a Superintendent Brian number of increased problems with social Metcalf is in charge of all integration,” Erhiawarien said. “There is of the funding across the even a greater likelihood of felony arrests by district and handles the young adulthood. These may seem like silly inspections as well. claims, but playgrounds really are essential “We will have all of the to a young student’s development.” playgrounds in the district Wacousta’s playground was built in 1990 inspected again this year,” Metcalf and Delta Center’s was built in 1995. Metcalf said. “We have all playgrounds added it is unfortunate that the elementary inspected every few years to make sure students will not able to see new playgrounds that we are maintaining safe equipment for in the near future. A Delta Center student slides down the slide during recess. The students will continue to play on the current playground and the district will keep it maintained.
Illustration of playground equipment currently at Delta Center Illustration by Sarah Sims/The Comets’ Tale
Safety of different surfacing 6 in of shredded rubber protects a 10 ft. fall 9 in. of sand protects a 4 ft. fall 9 in. of pea gravel protects a 5 ft. fall 9 in. of wood mulch protects a 7 ft. fall 9 in. of wood chips protects a 10 ft. fall
There is an estimated 200,000 emergency room visits from playground equipment each year Crossing the monkey bars is an elementary student at Delta Center Elementary School. Because the bond failed to pass students at Delta Center will not be getting the new playground that students had voted on. Photos by Amy Case and Katie Twarozynski/The Comets’ Tale
about 44% of injuries are from falls and 23% are from equipment related hazards Information from michigan.gov Department of Human Services
Inappropriate surfacing Asphalt Carpet not tested Concrete Dirt Grass CCA treated wood mulch
Michigan’s playground report card 2000 C
2004 C+
Age-Appropriate:
D-
B
Fall Surfacing:
F
B
Equipment Maintenance:
F
B+
Supervision: