(Shelby County, TN) Shelby County Schools must cut millions of dollars from its budget and plans on closing some regional offices, but on Friday, it will open a fitness center for employees.
Administrators said it’s about the size of a hotel fitness room, complete with six treadmills they found in storage.
In a letter to employees, SCS said the gym is a “new approach to wellness.”
“I would rather believe this is a facility for those who work in the district,” said Memphis-Shelby County Education Association President Keith Williams.
Williams said the intentions are good, but it’s not practical.
The gym will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Nobody was allowed inside the gym Thursday, so WREG couldn’t see it.
SCS said the room wasn’t used, and the only money spent was already exclusively to “wellness initiatives.”
Administrators said “the Department of Coordinator School Health provided grants for wellness programs that support students and employees.”
“I think every penny counts. Certainly if there is money, while this is important, our core business is the education of children, and that should be the first and far most thing we do before,” said Williams.
The grand opening is Friday at 9 a.m. There will be nutritionists and personal trainers on hand. SCS said Cigna Insurance is paying for that.