MT. VERNON Thanks to the recent Casey Middle School renovation, educators there have created an expanded fitness program for students.

The building now has a much larger fitness center room, where physical education students can use stationary spin bikes, elliptical machines, treadmills and weight machines.

In addition, Casey has a new multi-purpose room that is used for aerobics and other high-energy activities. The room also functions as a cafeteria.

We want kids to take on healthy lifestyles, said Casey Principal Mary McGreer. We recognize that obesity and unhealthy eating has brought a rise in diabetes and other health-related conditions. If we help give them the skills and the tools, (then) they could live a longer, healthier, more productive life.

The $6.5 million Casey Middle School expansion/renovation was completed

this past fall.

Included in the project was the construction of a brand new, two-story addition for sixth grade students, as well as other improvements like the expanded fitness center and new multi-purpose room.

Prior to the renovation, the Casey school did have a fitness room, but it was much smaller than the current one.

I like it bigger, said Casey eighth grader Ellen Hoffman, who was exercising in the fitness center as part of her PE class Thursday. In the old fitness room, it was like all squished and jammed together, and now we have like a lot of room.

Eighth grader Deshawna Jennings was also working out in the center Thursday. She often runs on the treadmills and sometimes competes with her friend to see who can run the farthest.

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Casey expands center