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Recreation division to launch online registration Dec. 2; gymnastics center reports self‑supporting operation
Summary
Art Shepherd, recreation division manager, told the advisory board Nov. 5 that the department will launch online registration Dec. 2 using Vermont Systems. Shepherd also highlighted the gymnastics center as a $308,000 enterprise operation that was self‑supporting in FY2009 with participation and revenue gains this year; lease renewal and staffing
Art Shepherd, recreation division manager, told the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board on Nov. 5 that the department will launch online registration Dec. 2 using an integrated Vermont Systems platform, allowing residents to register for classes, trips, swim lessons and gymnastics online.
Shepherd gave an operations update noting upcoming registration windows: youth basketball registration begins the week of the meeting and other program registration dates for sports, swim lessons and leisure classes were listed. Shepherd said youth basketball attracts more than 1,000 participants countywide and that registration would take place at several sites and at the office.
Shepherd highlighted the gymnastics center as a self‑supporting enterprise operation with reported FY2009 results and current performance metrics: the gymnastics program is a roughly $308,000 enterprise operation; about $190,000 (62 percent) of that is for hourly staff; rent and related costs were reported at $71,000 (about 23 percent); utilities and equipment account for additional operating shares. Shepherd said the facility netted about $21,000 in the 2009 fiscal year and that recent registration totals (462 signed up in the second session this fall versus 385 last year) place the center comfortably above its break‑even participation target.
Shepherd also noted the gymnastics program’s lease expires in May 2012 and said staff will raise the lease and facility question with the board as the expiration approaches. The presentation emphasized program quality and instructor ratios; Shepherd said the department uses a 1:8 coach‑to‑student ratio as a staffing guideline and will add instructors rather than simply enlarging class sizes when demand grows.
Shepherd briefly reviewed other recreation activities: a cheerleading/team dance fundraiser, an active middle‑school basketball selection process and a Carver after‑school program with roughly 59 registered participants and an October daily average of 28 attendees. Shepherd said staff plans to highlight a different operation in future reports and will continue monitoring enterprise revenues as the online registration system goes live.
