A joint effort on the part of the city’s two grammar schools has the aim of creating a cooler, more comfortable place for assemblies and other school events.

W.O. Parmer Elementary and Greenville Elementary Schools have joined forces to raise funds to air-condition the building shared by both campuses and known as the &uot;old gym.&uot;

While other gymnasiums in the school system are also not air-conditioned, the GES-Parmer gym is considered a special case.

The gym is not only used by the school’s PE classes, but also serves as an auditorium for as many as 1,000 people for assemblies and other school events.

&uot;When you get that many people on a warm spring or fall day inside an non-air-conditioned building…it can be miserable,&uot; Mary Ann Hamilton, president of the GES PTA explained.

&uot;This is the first time both our PTAs have worked together for something to benefit both our schools,&uot; Hamilton added.

On Friday, Senator Wendell Mitchell was on hand to present a $1,000 check to Parmer PTA President Sally Carlyon and Hamilton to add to the monies already raised for the project, which is expected to cost approximately $40,000.

&uot;It’s always a privilege to support the Butler County School System….education is important to me, and I am always glad to help,&uot; Mitchell said.

The two schools have already raised nearly half the total needed to purchase the four seven-and-one-half-ton units required and have them installed, Carlyon said.

&uot;We have done really well with our film canister fundraiser (in which students fill up canisters with quarters to donate to the fund) and we are going to extend that past our Monday deadline,&uot; she added.

In addition to the canister fundraiser, the two PTAs are planning to put on a big May Day celebration reminiscent of the celebrations once held on the grounds of the schools each spring.

The event is slated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at Tiger Stadium and other spots on the two campuses.

&uot;We want to have a really big ‘do’ like they did in the old days,&uot; Hamilton said.

A king and queen will be chosen and the traditional plaiting of the May Pole is planned, along with relay races, a dunking booth, carnival games, a giant slide, bouncy castle and other activities. Craft activities, including hat-making, are also on tap.

&uot;We’ll offer food and lots of fun and games – basically, a very fun, family-oriented day,&uot; Hamilton said.

An admission will be charged for the May Fest, with all monies raised to go toward the gym air-conditioning project.

&uot;We thank the community for their support in this effort…if there are any alumni who want to assist us with this, we certainly appreciate it,&uot; Carlyon said.

For more information on gym project fundraisers, contact Mary Ann Hamilton at 382-8668 or Sally Carlyon at 382-5217.