HERMANN — A proposal to develop a walking trail connecting the Gasconade County R-1 campus and the Mesmer-Eitman Center on Highway 19 was given the green light March 11 by the district’s Board of Directors.

The trail will be developed by the Mesmer-Eitman Foundation as a way to fulfill the late Clara Mesmer-Eitman’s support of  physical fitness within the community. A retired home economics teacher in the Fox School District, Clara Mesmer-Eitman and her husband relocated to Hermann in 1976. 

Ten years later she established a trust fund and foundation.

When she died, her estate was valued at $44 million, of which $34 million is held by the foundation. The trail will be financed with interest generated by the principal amount in the foundation.

“She believed in walking. She believed it is really good,” said Bob Kirchoffer of the foundation, who formally approached the R-1 board about the project at its regular monthly session.

Board President Mark Brooks recently walked the property.

“There are certain circumstances that would make it very appropriate for us and very community oriented,” he said. “I don’t see a downside,” he added.

Not only would community residents be able to use the trail, but cross-country and track-and-field teams could use it for conditioning. School officials like that possibility because it would allow training without requiring the students to run on city streets.

The trail would be natural surface and about 6 feet wide. Kirchoffer said there would be a separate route for wheelchairs. Parts of the property contain gullies and the foundation will build bridges over the gullies if necessary, he said.

R-1 Director Kevin Stiers supported the proposed 1.1-mile-long trail.

“I just think it would be a win-win for everybody,” he said.

Director Tim Schulte said he supports the concept, but worried about tying up the land, which could be used for badly needed housing units. Schulte asked Kirchoffer if the foundation would consider buying the R-1 land that would be part of the trail.

“The land is worth a lot of money,” Schulte said. “I think it’s a great concept, but the land is worth a lot of money.”

Kirchoffer said a purchase of the land had not been considered by the foundation.

Other directors endorsed the project, also.

“I think anything that encourages people to exercise is great,” said board Vice President Dot Schoenig.

Jeff Englert said “use it while it’s there. We could still sell the property” later if needed.

In addition to students using the trail for physical fitness, there is another possible benefit, said Mike Pratte. “I think it’s a good service  opportunity for our kids — to maintain the trail,” he said. “I like the concept,” Pratte added.

Added Becky Witthaus: “I think it has a lot of positives.”

Superintendent Scott Smith said language could be included in the agreement between R-1 and the foundation that would allow the district to leave the pact if there is a need to use the land for other purposes.

Brooks had the last word for the district. “The guidance I would give you is move forward and see where it takes us,” the board president said.

In other matters at the board session, directors heard that the district’s tutoring program has opened up for both students struggling with their work and for the more-advanced students. The program is serving 56 students two nights a week. “We feel like we’re serving the kids,” said Maranda Anderson, R-1 director of curriculum. “The kids are showing up. It’s meeting many of their social-emotional needs.”