Classroom chairs, in which students will spend over 1000 hours sitting over the course of the school year, have long been an object of complaint and annoyance. “The chairs have no cushioning whatsoever, and my back starts to hurt badly every time I sit down,” said senior James Staver, who explained that the hard plastic seat-back juts into his spine and is generally uncomfortable to sit in. “It’s almost as if they were designed for prison, and not for school.”

To solve the problem, Staver and some classmates from his Math Connections class are now working on special cushions to retrofit existing chairs and make them more comfortable without the additional cost of buying new furniture. “Our new design adds considerable support and it actually lets you sit up properly,” said sophomore Nelson Cooper, who is also working on the project. David Newbound, chairman of the National Back Pain Association explained the potential repercussions of not sitting up straight at school. “Posture has a significant effect on children’s educational achievement,” he is quoted as saying. “it shortens concentration span and leads to constant fidgeting.”

Manufactured by Virco, a California-based furniture company, the current metal-framed chairs used at Lincoln are dubbed the 3000 and retail for $80 each. Approximately 1200 of the 3000s are  in the classrooms. A blogger caused a minor uproar last fall when he released photos of dumpsters filled with school chairs in the Lincoln parking lot. “We used to try to tape them back together if they split or if the back came off,” said bookkeeper Jill Ross, “but many chairs are just too damaged to keep.” As well, the lifetime warranty advertised by Virco does not include “effects of normal usage over time,” according to their website, rendering chairs useless as soon as they break.

Feedback for the new cushions has been positive so far, and both students and teachers are looking forward to the possibilities. “It’s honestly really nice,” said art teacher Lilly Windle. Sophomore Wheeler Nealy agreed. “This feels amazing,” he said in reference to one of the prototypes. “When can I have this?” With a manufacturing cost of under $10, the new design is significantly cheaper than a brand new chair, and while Staver doesn’t know where the project might go, he and his team will continue to pursue opportunities. “We have this fantastic chance to innovate something that hasn’t really changed in a while,” he said, “and it’s honestly very exciting.”