ARLINGTON — Thirty years is long enough for a wrestling mat currently being used at Post Middle School.

The Arlington School Board approved a $3,000 donation from the middle school’s PTSA Monday, Dec. 14, to go toward purchasing a new mat at the school.

The donation will help offset the $11,000 required to purchase the mat, according to an Arlington School District memo. The school’s ASB, physical education department and general fund will pay for the remaining balance.

“We refurbished it about 15 years ago and it was meant to extend the life of them for five years,” said Voni Walker, assistant principal and athletic director at Post. “We’re well past due.”

The 40-foot by 40-foot mat, which is made up of three large sections, is scheduled to be purchased and installed by January, when wrestling season begins.

The mat will be navy blue and feature Post Middle School Falcon logo, Walker said.

In addition to approving the donation for the mats, the School Board also approved a donation by a Post Middle School parent.

The parent, who owns Pacific Coast Systems and Services in Smokey Point, has agreed to donate and install new wall pads, which would be placed beneath both basketball hoops in Post’s gymnasium.

Wall pads are located below each hoop to keep players from getting injured.

The value of the project is $2,460.

The pads are also about 30 years old, Walker said.

“It’s just so wonderful to get that kind of support,” she said. “People know that schools don’t have much money right now.”

School Board members also gave the nod to a Kent Prairie Elementary School donation from its PTA in the amount of $2,440.

The total amount, which will be divided among certified teaching staff members, will help pay for supplies and other items those teachers may need, said Kent Prairie Principal Kathy Engell in an interview.

“It’s to give those teachers some discretionary money that they could use for normal expenses,” Engell said.

The PTA has donated playground equipment, paid for special guest speakers and field trips in the past, along with other programs and expenses, Engell said.

The final donation approved by the Board Dec. 14 was in the amount of $1,000 for Eagle Creek Elementary School.

The money from Dorian Photography — the photography company used at the school — recently made the donation to support programs that benefit all students, according to a school memo.

Administrators said they plan to create a “Parent as Learner” night, in which parents can learn math or reading games to play at home with their children.

Dorian’s donation will help offset the expenses associated with getting the program running, the memo said.