New Bloomfield R-3 receives grant for tables, benches

<p>Quinn Wilson/For the News Tribune</p><p>New Bloomfield High School students Nathan Mueller, Ethan Hake, James Wilson and Michael Leason enjoy the district’s new majority recycled tire tables purchased with a $12,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The district purchased 23 tables and benches with the grant money.</p>

Quinn Wilson/For the News Tribune

New Bloomfield High School students Nathan Mueller, Ethan Hake, James Wilson and Michael Leason enjoy the district’s new majority recycled tire tables purchased with a $12,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The district purchased 23 tables and benches with the grant money.

Tired students in New Bloomfield may now take a break on tires.

The New Bloomfield R-3 School District received $12,000 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Scrap Tire Material Grant, which supplied the district with funds to purchase 23 tables and benches made out of majority recycled tires.

The tables and benches are made of 3,060 pounds of crumb rubber from Champlin Tire Recycling, Superintendent Sarah Wisdom said.

"(The district) teaches recycling; we recycle our paper here, and we get our kids involved in that," Wisdom said. "That was another reason to have these (tables) and we talk to our kids about them being recycled. Teaching the education process of recycling is always something we're looking for."

Wisdom said she learned about the DNR's program through "word of mouth" by members of the community. This spring was the district's first time applying for the grant.

The benches are placed throughout the district's 50-acre campus in front of the high school, on the elementary school playground, and on the district's baseball and softball fields as well as the track. Wisdom said these benches provided seating in a lot of places that previously had none.

"We've been focusing on some facility upgrades, and we just wanted more seating. (The benches in front of the high school) allow our seniors to come out and eat lunch," Wisdom said.

She said the district was excited when they learned that they received the full amount they had applied for, and the school district may potentially apply for grants from the DNR in the future.

"We're thankful that we received (the money) and were able to spruce up our facilities," Wisdom said.