I've participated in sports as an athlete and coach at the competitive level for many years and am concerned about the Guilford High School (GHS) athletic facility and gym.

I understand that errors were made in terms of calculating the proper space and safety requirements in the initial plans. It appears that little has been done to correct this issue and that there's a promise to possibly fix the deficiencies if there's money left over at the end of the project. In my opinion, designing a facility from the end of the project rather than the beginning isn't a fair and comprehensive approach.

I've learned that other areas of the facility have been greatly expanded and were designed with generous specifications. The specifications for the gym appear to be on the minimum side in some cases, which has an injury and liability concern. Recently the music department has requested a last-minute additional, large amount of high-cost space even though an ancillary extra practice theater could be modified to meet that need.

I don't believe the size of the building should be increased and additional expense added for the music room because there's space that could be modified in the existing ancillary theater/music space. I do believe any expansion should be directed toward the ancillary gymnasium and the main gym. Both needed to be expanded, the main gym by 10 feet or so more and the auxiliary gym significantly.

I encourage the GHS Building Committee to make sure that the corrections to the gym take first priority as the other facility spaces are in good order and there's room within the current square footage to provide the additional space requested so the town doesn't incur additional cost and/or saves the difference on the project.

Dan Miller

Guilford