Arlington proposing to close county gymnastics program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was speaking to an insider tonight and there seem to be three major issues that aren't dependent on more coaches, namely:

There is more management than there used to be when the program was running 2x more rec classes. The program is now top heavy and those salaries are expensive.

DPR is leaving breaks between sessions when there used to be classes, so full time staff are getting paid for several weeks a year without teaching when there could be classes.

Even when working, full time coaches are being scheduled for fewer classes with lots of breaks.

Really, the person managing the gymnastics program and who was responsible the budget for the past few years just got a cushy new promotion in DPR a few months ago. There is a strong element of poor management and them saving himself here.

There are definitely more people who are salaried now. Although even ten years before Covid the county always scheduled two week breaks between classes. They were used for makeup classes if any classes had to be cancelled during the session. Since almost everyone was part time/temp, otherwise you just didn’t get paid or only got paid for team, cleaning, etc. That probably wasn’t great for staffing either although there was a lot of staff then that did it as a part time side hustle.

They haven't been running makeup classes. Instead, they've been refunding fees for those canceled classes. So the gym just sits empty during the breaks. That's a change in how the gym operates and it affects fee recovery.

I'll add the DPR offers private and semi-private swim lessons during breaks to make sure instructors are offering services and the pool is being used. There are options here.

Focusing resources on teaching children how to swim vs open gym and ninja classes and cheer and birthday parties.

Hmm.

child obesity and screen addiction is absolutely a problem. What's your problem with movement classes? Question?

No problem. I think it’s a role of government question. And a question of priorities with limited resources. Not a popular line of thinking. Clearly other governments in our area have determined this type of space isn’t their role to provide.

I wish more people were saying where else the county should cut to save this $1M. Make suggestions. Or maybe it’s just pay even more taxes.

The proposal isn't to cut other things to offer this. It's to offer this to increase revenue to reduce the program deficit. It's offering more to the county not less.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t the answer to end the support of the competitive team and devote all the resources to using the space for a broad-based rec or an adaptive program? Some minor adjustments to existing space and lower the level of instructor needed for a bunch of classes. Pretty much turn it into an amped up JW Tumbles. And then kids who want to continue at a higher level have to funnel to the private sector which is how all other youth sports work.

I have a feeling the most active protesters of this cut are parents of kids on this team so no one is doing to advocate for that. But if it was really about saving this community space and benefiting kids, that seems like the path.

I saw the comment all the “real” coaches would then quit. But then subsequently they apparently cost a lot and are taking breaks that are too long.

A couple full time people who hire cheaper staff who aren’t regular employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was speaking to an insider tonight and there seem to be three major issues that aren't dependent on more coaches, namely:

There is more management than there used to be when the program was running 2x more rec classes. The program is now top heavy and those salaries are expensive.

DPR is leaving breaks between sessions when there used to be classes, so full time staff are getting paid for several weeks a year without teaching when there could be classes.

Even when working, full time coaches are being scheduled for fewer classes with lots of breaks.

Really, the person managing the gymnastics program and who was responsible the budget for the past few years just got a cushy new promotion in DPR a few months ago. There is a strong element of poor management and them saving himself here.

There are definitely more people who are salaried now. Although even ten years before Covid the county always scheduled two week breaks between classes. They were used for makeup classes if any classes had to be cancelled during the session. Since almost everyone was part time/temp, otherwise you just didn’t get paid or only got paid for team, cleaning, etc. That probably wasn’t great for staffing either although there was a lot of staff then that did it as a part time side hustle.

They haven't been running makeup classes. Instead, they've been refunding fees for those canceled classes. So the gym just sits empty during the breaks. That's a change in how the gym operates and it affects fee recovery.

I'll add the DPR offers private and semi-private swim lessons during breaks to make sure instructors are offering services and the pool is being used. There are options here.

Focusing resources on teaching children how to swim vs open gym and ninja classes and cheer and birthday parties.

Hmm.

child obesity and screen addiction is absolutely a problem. What's your problem with movement classes? Question?

No problem. I think it’s a role of government question. And a question of priorities with limited resources. Not a popular line of thinking. Clearly other governments in our area have determined this type of space isn’t their role to provide.

I wish more people were saying where else the county should cut to save this $1M. Make suggestions. Or maybe it’s just pay even more taxes.

The proposal isn't to cut other things to offer this. It's to offer this to increase revenue to reduce the program deficit. It's offering more to the county not less.

So you’re saying in a couple months parks should get themselves into shape and figure out how to generate a million in revenue starting July 1. Even if they could make up this deficit with all these ideas and you got rid of all the people you think are sinking the ship somehow (I don’t think any of this is possible), it’s not happening that fast.

Something else is going to be cut or we are paying more taxes if this program keeps going as is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the answer to end the support of the competitive team and devote all the resources to using the space for a broad-based rec or an adaptive program? Some minor adjustments to existing space and lower the level of instructor needed for a bunch of classes. Pretty much turn it into an amped up JW Tumbles. And then kids who want to continue at a higher level have to funnel to the private sector which is how all other youth sports work.

I have a feeling the most active protesters of this cut are parents of kids on this team so no one is doing to advocate for that. But if it was really about saving this community space and benefiting kids, that seems like the path.

I saw the comment all the “real” coaches would then quit. But then subsequently they apparently cost a lot and are taking breaks that are too long.

A couple full time people who hire cheaper staff who aren’t regular employees.

What do you mean breaks that are too long?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the answer to end the support of the competitive team and devote all the resources to using the space for a broad-based rec or an adaptive program? Some minor adjustments to existing space and lower the level of instructor needed for a bunch of classes. Pretty much turn it into an amped up JW Tumbles. And then kids who want to continue at a higher level have to funnel to the private sector which is how all other youth sports work.

I have a feeling the most active protesters of this cut are parents of kids on this team so no one is doing to advocate for that. But if it was really about saving this community space and benefiting kids, that seems like the path.

I saw the comment all the “real” coaches would then quit. But then subsequently they apparently cost a lot and are taking breaks that are too long.

A couple full time people who hire cheaper staff who aren’t regular employees.

What do you mean breaks that are too long?

Apparently coaches used to be scheduled for more classes per day. So they might teach like six classes per day and now they're being asked to teach like three classes per day with an hour between each class.

There are also longer breaks between rec sessions, so fewer classes are being offered overall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They haven't been running makeup classes. Instead, they've been refunding fees for those canceled classes. So the gym just sits empty during the breaks. That's a change in how the gym operates and it affects fee recovery.

That’s definitely interesting! I wonder why they made that change if they still have the programming breaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They haven't been running makeup classes. Instead, they've been refunding fees for those canceled classes. So the gym just sits empty during the breaks. That's a change in how the gym operates and it affects fee recovery.

That’s definitely interesting! I wonder why they made that change if they still have the programming breaks.

The parks person in the work session says they are doing this because the coaches are with the competitive team. Either at practice or meets. She said they cancel rec classes due to this reason. Sound like when they are short staffed, priority goes to the competitive team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They haven't been running makeup classes. Instead, they've been refunding fees for those canceled classes. So the gym just sits empty during the breaks. That's a change in how the gym operates and it affects fee recovery.

That’s definitely interesting! I wonder why they made that change if they still have the programming breaks.

The parks person in the work session says they are doing this because the coaches are with the competitive team. Either at practice or meets. She said they cancel rec classes due to this reason. Sound like when they are short staffed, priority goes to the competitive team.

This doesn't explain the lack of makeup sessions.

[Anonymous]

Hm, yeah I guess I think with a 2-3 week break you would think there would be one weekend where there isn’t a meet in there, but I guess maybe rarely a case would come up. When I did it, the makeups were all held the same time the regular class would be, just in the session break, so it already was scheduled that way if that makes sense. The only team thing that should affect it was meets but again you would think at least one weekend would work in most instances throughout the year. And this could be taken into account when scheduling. At the time I worked for the county there were a lot of people who only coached rec and were willing to sub so if it came up we would just get a sub. Every gym deals with this (and most do not use sessions with breaks any more so it’s even harder) and rarely issue refunds. We issue credits occasionally if we really can’t make it work but we also take things into account when scheduling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They haven't been running makeup classes. Instead, they've been refunding fees for those canceled classes. So the gym just sits empty during the breaks. That's a change in how the gym operates and it affects fee recovery.

That’s definitely interesting! I wonder why they made that change if they still have the programming breaks.

The parks person in the work session says they are doing this because the coaches are with the competitive team. Either at practice or meets. She said they cancel rec classes due to this reason. Sound like when they are short staffed, priority goes to the competitive team.

This doesn't explain the lack of makeup sessions.

But it does?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hm, yeah I guess I think with a 2-3 week break you would think there would be one weekend where there isn’t a meet in there, but I guess maybe rarely a case would come up. When I did it, the makeups were all held the same time the regular class would be, just in the session break, so it already was scheduled that way if that makes sense. The only team thing that should affect it was meets but again you would think at least one weekend would work in most instances throughout the year. And this could be taken into account when scheduling. At the time I worked for the county there were a lot of people who only coached rec and were willing to sub so if it came up we would just get a sub. Every gym deals with this (and most do not use sessions with breaks any more so it’s even harder) and rarely issue refunds. We issue credits occasionally if we really can’t make it work but we also take things into account when scheduling.

The meet schedule is also known pretty darn early in the year (September?), so none of this should be a surprise during the big meet season in January, February, and March. Usually enjoy Arlington classes will list the session dates. I know for swim classes it specifically calls out which dates you're signing up for. There shouldn't be any canceling of classes because of this. It should all just be scheduled.

[Anonymous]

I can guess what is happening is people quit or they plan for classes and plan and intend to hire and can’t hire. The classes are scheduled pretty far out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can guess what is happening is people quit or they plan for classes and plan and intend to hire and can’t hire. The classes are scheduled pretty far out.

Yes, maybe that is the case. It is true that while you know the weekends in August, you don’t know the exact time of the meet until much closer to the date. Maybe it feels like too much for whoever approves that and that is why they are canceling and refusing. I don’t know exactly how early they finalize the class schedule. But it just seems like if you are already blocking out some weeks, there could be options. And enough rec staff that you can arrange subs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They haven't been running makeup classes. Instead, they've been refunding fees for those canceled classes. So the gym just sits empty during the breaks. That's a change in how the gym operates and it affects fee recovery.

That’s definitely interesting! I wonder why they made that change if they still have the programming breaks.

The parks person in the work session says they are doing this because the coaches are with the competitive team. Either at practice or meets. She said they cancel rec classes due to this reason. Sound like when they are short staffed, priority goes to the competitive team.

This was very frustrating. First we have no meets over the summer. Second we have one meet a month and not all levels go..some coaches only need to go for one day on the weekend only.

Practice for competitive is at night so nothing to do with rec classes during the day. Rec Classes at night taught by different coaches.

Honestly I just didnt understand what she was saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They haven't been running makeup classes. Instead, they've been refunding fees for those canceled classes. So the gym just sits empty during the breaks. That's a change in how the gym operates and it affects fee recovery.

That’s definitely interesting! I wonder why they made that change if they still have the programming breaks.

The parks person in the work session says they are doing this because the coaches are with the competitive team. Either at practice or meets. She said they cancel rec classes due to this reason. Sound like when they are short staffed, priority goes to the competitive team.

This was very frustrating. First we have no meets over the summer. Second we have one meet a month and not all levels go..some coaches only need to go for one day on the weekend only.

Practice for competitive is at night so nothing to do with rec classes during the day. Rec Classes at night taught by different coaches.

Honestly I just didnt understand what she was saying.

Oh and as far as I know competitive coaches arent teaching rec on the weekend because they are coaching competitive kids.

So really I have no idea what she meant. I cant think of a scenario where this would be an issue.