Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
New rules were established last month for residents who walk the halls at Clintonville High School for exercise.
Steve Cerro, a senior risk control specialist with Wright Specialty Insurance, the district’s insurance carrier, told the School Board on Oct. 26 that there was liability associated with allowing the walkers to use the school.
“Our concern as a company is when you are walking around the school, there’s nobody there to watch you. Whereas the rec center has someone sitting there already,” he said. “I guess I want to know, why can’t you use the rec center to do that?
“The concerns I have, of course, are liability. If somebody falls down, has a heart attack, if something happens, a fire in the school, and there’s nobody there to watch you. It’s up to everybody here how much risk you want to take.”
Local resident Jack DeWolf, who addressed the board during the citizens forum, said the risk seems minimal.
“We believe we’ve been doing this since about 2008 without any incidents so I feel the risk is probably pretty minimal, if any.”
DeWolf said that, in 2011 while walking downstairs in the science wing, he found a burst water pipe and was able to alert school staff.
He noted that walkers can sign in, as early as 5 a.m., at the rec center, so it is known who is walking in the school.
Pam Gray said the walkers also sign a waiver of school responsibility, walkie talkies are available and there are video cameras in the hall.
“Maybe we are making too much out of this,” board President Ben Huber said.
The board than voted unanimously to allow walkers to continue to use the school if there is at least one additional person during nonstaffed times, they carry a walkie talkie and sign the waiver.
The walkers are allowed when there are no students present and no events taking place, or generally from 5-7 a.m. Monday through Friday, 4-7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 4-5:30 p.m. Friday.