Wellness Center needs money, equipment

DUNDEE—The Dundee Central School Wellness Center is nearly six years old. The center has been free to residents of the school district as well as faculty and staff members since it opened in 2005.
However, at the recent Dundee school meeting, the board of education directed Jenn Hutches, wellness center coordinator, to research adding a five dollar per month fee to use the facility. The point has now come when new equipment is needed. Funding is needed to replace $43,000 in equipment.
Using the figure of 972 community members who have registered, $4,860 in revenue could be generated if there was a monthly fee of five dollars. If the figure of 500 members was used, $2,500 a month would be generated. Hutches said not all of the original number use the center on a regular basis. She said an average of 434 people visit during January, generally the busiest month. October is the slowest month with an average of 322. The center is also used extensively by Dundee Central School students. There would be other costs if a membership system is put in place. Registration, membership cards, an additional security camera were some of the costs Hutches outlined. Several area school districts charge to use their wellness centers. This information was used to provide a perspective on cost of membership. Hutches also presented costs for the Geneva YMCA and the new Snap Fitness in Penn Yan.
The cost to equip the DCS facility originally was $88,000. Hutches outlined the replacement costs for several pieces of equipment that are needed. She provided a comparison of leasing and outright purchase. The cost of the equipment that needs to be replaced now is $43,000. Leasing would cost $15,371 a year plus $3,000 interest. Hutches said the advantage of leasing is that the district would receive brand  new equipment every three years.  There would also be an option to purchase the equipment at the end of the term of the lease.