On October 14, 2024 the RIH Board stated that they would be undertaking a new project, creating a “Multi-purpose room with dedicated wrestling space” with a $625,000 budget (Pages 21-22 of 10/14/24 meeting minutes). As for the location of this room, the old BOE office was first looked at, but it was later determined that renovations would exceed the budget. Ramapo administration shares that architects surveyed the school once more and found that the classrooms at the end of the 300 wing with the accordion walls —rooms 313, 315, 318, and 320 —would be more cost effective. While those rooms were previously a weight room, now 90 students go in and out of just one of the four classrooms every day.
Ramapo administration also planned for this multipurpose room to be a space for athletic teams, gym classes, and more throughout the day. Additionally, with block scheduling next year, the space would be used for students to eat lunch. Outside of the wrestling season, clubs would also be able to occupy this room for meetings and activities.
Ramapo’s wrestling team currently consists of 39 members ranging from freshmen to seionrs (nj.com). Senior Nate Mangino is a member of the wrestling team and shares that while the topic of a training space had been discussed within the team, he was not aware of the proposal. He also shares, “The trade off of four classrooms for a wrestling room is a good one as the wrestling team continues to improve it is only fair that a dedicated space is made available to us,” he continues, “Ramapo ultimately puts education first but when made available they do allow for the expansion of athletics and it’s part of the school community.”
Turning four classrooms into a multi-purpose room not only affects students, but teachers as well. One Ramapo teacher shares that they were surprised by the news, continuing, “Having to share a room with two or three teachers makes it very difficult [, especially with having] to carry your stuff around.”
As of December 16, 2024, this project, which is labeled the “Ramapo High School Multi-purpose Wrestling Room” on page 14 of the 20241216 Regular Public Meeting Agenda, was rescinded as bids still exceeded estimated costs. At the moment no further statements have been made on the future of this project.
