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Goldfish Swim School owner urges Covington to promote year‑round swim instruction to reduce drownings
Summary
Rochelle Nurse, owner of Goldfish Swim School in Covington, urged the council during public comment to help promote year‑round swim lessons and water‑safety education, citing Louisiana’s high drowning rates and limited local indoor facilities. She asked the city to amplify outreach and consider policy review.
Rochelle Nurse, owner and operator of Goldfish Swim School in Covington, used the council’s public‑comment period on April 1 to urge city leaders to promote year‑round swim instruction and community water‑safety education, saying those steps reduce drownings.
“We are a premier swim school where we teach children from the ages of 4 months to 12 years old,” Nurse said, describing Goldfish’s year‑round lessons, scholarships and free water‑safety presentations. She said the school partners with USA Swimming, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and Every Child A Swimmer.
Nurse said Louisiana has the nation’s highest drowning rates and that research shows regular swim instruction can cut drowning risk. She asked the city to help by promoting awareness, sharing Goldfish’s outreach on city social channels, reviewing municipal water‑safety initiatives and including Goldfish in city events. Nurse also said Goldfish offers free presentations to day cares, community centers and schools and runs a scholarship program; she noted Every Child A Swimmer currently provides five scholarships per quarter to the school and that the school supplements that need when families cannot pay.
Nurse provided the business location during the meeting as 50 Park Place (inside the former Rouses, near Phone Depot and Urban Air) and said she would follow up with a phone number for the council to publish. Council members asked for contact details and expressed support for the program on the record; no formal action was taken.
Why it matters: Council members heard a local provider’s request for help expanding access to swim lessons and water‑safety outreach at the start of spring break and the swim season. The city’s promotional support or partnerships with local providers can increase awareness of existing resources for families without year‑round indoor options.
Next steps: Nurse asked the council to share Goldfish posts and consider the swim‑school perspective when planning city events and outreach. She said Goldfish will provide its preferred contact number to the city.
