Gym class up for debate in Dayton

Everyone from parents to an Olympic gold medalist showed up at a Dayton Public Schools' board meeting Monday night to debate giving some a pass on gym class.

A recent Ohio law lets high school students skip gym class if they participate in cheerleading, marching band, or a varsity sport for two full seasons, but only if the school district decides to allow it.

A number of people on both sides of the issue made pleas to school board members, who will have the final say in whether to implement the rule.

Some parents think it would give their kids a chance to exercise their minds by taking more college prep classes.

"Simply put high school PE is not a consideration in the college admissions process," Stivers parent association member Donna LaChance says. "But high school course work does impact college admission and scholarship opportunities."

Others, including Olympic gold medalist and former DPS health educator Lucinda Williams Adams, say allowing students to miss gym would be a move down the wrong path during a time when they believe health concerns are growing.

"If you do not have a healthy child, you're not going to have a good learner no matter how important and blessed the academics are," Williams says.

School districts in Kettering and Centerville already allow students who meet the requirements to waive physical education class.

Dayton officials have not said yet when they will make a decision on the issue.