Hawks make new weight room available to public

By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise

Two years after Flandreau Public Schools opened its weight room to public use — a resource many residents are still discovering — the Colman-Egan School District has now taken a similar step.
The Colman-Egan school board has officially approved public use of its new weight room for district residents, expanding shared access to school facilities funded by local taxpayers. School Superintendent Scott Hemmer says a number of people — particularly recent graduates still living in the area — are already taking advantage of the opportunity, helping work through a few initial kinks as the system gets up and running.
The decision follows several months of discussion, as board members and administrators worked through questions around liability, supervision, and how best to protect both users and the district. At its most recent regularly scheduled meeting, the board approved a final version of a weight room user agreement, officially opening access to district residents.
The user agreement — which must be signed before a key fob is issued — is designed to strike a balance between accessibility and accountability, outlining clear expectations for users while maintaining appropriate safeguards for the school.
Included in the agreement:
Memberships cost $50 per person or family. Lost key fobs may be replaced for $20.
Hours of operation during the school year will be 4:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to midnight on weekdays. Weekend hours are 6 a.m. to midnight. Summer hours have not yet been determined.
Additional logistics, including a waiver of liability, expectations for equipment use and clean-up, and other guidelines, are outlined. More information is available through the school’s main office.
The move reflects a broader trend among school districts — particularly in rural communities — to open weight rooms or fitness facilities to local residents as a way to support community health and wellness, while also allowing taxpayers access to resources they help fund.
In many small towns, including those across Moody County, there are few public or commercial gyms within reasonable driving distance. As a result, school weight rooms are increasingly becoming the only dedicated fitness spaces available.
Districts that have adopted similar policies say shared access can help remove barriers to physical activity, especially for adults, seniors, and families looking for affordable, year-round ways to stay active.