Wallkill Valley High laying down new gym floor

HAMBURG — Come early to mid-September, staff and students at Wallkill Valley Regional High School will discover a brand new gymnasium floor, the first replacement since the school’s 1982 opening.

The project started on July 14, with workers from Classic Sports Floors ripping up the original squared parquet flooring. Wallkill decided to use Classic Sports Floors in West Berlin to lay down the wood and purchased the wood from Robbins Floors. With the delivery of wood expected sometime this week, maple was the likely choice. Used throughout the country, maple is the optimal choice for gymnasiums in high schools, as well at the professional level. Maple is strong and is resistant to scuffing, but unlike many woods, it has good shock resistance. In order for the floor to allow some give, a subflooring will be installed at Wallkill to allow for heavier loads.

“The floor will have foam padding and a subfloor system which will be shock absorbent to prevent injuries,” said athletic director Daryl Jones said.

Although there is a possibility the floor may not be completed until mid-September, Jones does not feel it will prevent gym classes from going on once school starts at the beginning of September.

“Even if the floor isn’t completed, there will be no interference with gym classes. It will still be warm in September, so I would suggest all gym teachers bring their classes outdoors,” Jones said.

In April, Board Secretary Joseph Hurley Jr. presented the proposed School Budget for the 2014-15 school year. The budget included a withdrawal of $180,000 from the Capital Reserve to fund the replacement of the gymnasium floor.