Munford’s Gym is a Hail Mary

by Alex Dynan
Go back in time to elementary school. Besides lunch, what was your favorite part of the day? For many, it was gym class –- a break from reading, writing, and math, and a chance to burn off energy and play with friends.
At Mary Munford Elementary School, however, gym class is a problem –- because there is no gym.
On cold or rainy days, students at Mary Munford must make do with hallways, empty classrooms or the auditorium stage. This is because of funding problems in the Richmond school system.
Every year, each school in Richmond submits a list of maintenance needs and facility improvements to the city for consideration. Those improvements that the city deems necessary make it onto the Capital Improvement Plan, or CIP. The 2008-2012 CIP includes a $3 million gym for Mary Munford.
Mary Munford is in District 1 of the Richmond school system. Kim Bridges, who represents that district on the School Board, says the CIP is more of a wish list than a to-do list.

“The CIP has been funded at about 10 percent,” Bridges said. “So we are requesting 100 percent of the funds and only getting 10 percent every year.”
That doesn’t surprise Greg Muzik, the principal at Mary Munford School. He has another name for the CIP.
“I’ve been in the system long enough to realistically know … it’s a probably-will-never-happen list,” Muzik said. “Most people would agree education is critical and is probably a key to making sure the city is a healthy city … Next question is, do you believe this enough that you will make it a priority for some of these capital funds?”
Mary Munford has more than 500 students. Proponents say a gym would be not only important to the students and staff at the school, but also to the community, which uses the school for neighborhood events.
This is not the first attempt by Mary Munford to get a gym.
Several years ago, the Richmond City Council approved $30,000 for a preliminary architectural plan. An architect came to Mary Munford and made a design for an outside gym. Initial drawings and cost estimates were even proposed.
The idea was that if the Mary Munford PTA could raise half of the funds for the gym, the City Council would provide the matching half. The PTA raised money for two years and came up with more than $100,000. But to amass $1.5 million was out of reach – it would have taken decades.
All the PTA can do now is educate parents on Mary Munford’s situation.
“The PTA tries to bring issues to the attention of the parent population here at Munford,” says PTA President Jennifer Eason. “I know our parents would really love a gym.”
Cordell Watkins, a physical education teacher at Mary Munford, wouldn’t mind one either.
While his students must brave the elements of nature for only one hour a day, Watkins spends seven hours a day in the heat or cold. It would make his job that much easier to have a $3 million gym – or any enclosure.
“I don’t think that I need a $3 million space,” Watkins said. “If you could build something with four walls and a roof, that would be fine.”