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Richfield Community Ed highlights KidZone launch and expanded aquatics offerings
Summary
Community Education reported the Oct. 1 launch of KidZone after-school at Centennial (current daily attendance 16'25; 30 active contracts) and an aquatics program with roughly 600 annual registrations; staff said KidZone carries an estimated startup risk of about $45,000'$65,000 but plans to grow enrollment and pursue county certification to expand family assistance options.
Richfield Community Education presented program updates to the board on Dec. 1, focusing on KidZone after-school services at Centennial Elementary and recent changes to the district's aquatics offerings.
Amy Skari Klecker, director of Community Education, said KidZone officially launched Oct. 1 with 36 contracts and current daily attendance that ranges between 16 and 25 students; the program's target daily attendance is 30'35. Coordinator Abby Dube described the operational work behind the start-up: parent and staff handbooks, billing cycles and staffing systems that were created from the ground up.
Student employees who work for Community Ed were introduced to the board. In a pre-recorded clip, Grace Westman, a senior at Richfield High School working at Centennial KidZone, said the role taught her communication, group leadership and time management. Lila Strucker, a senior lifeguard and swim instructor, described her pride in helping timid children become confident in the water.
Jolene Litwinchak, Community Education coordinator for aquatics and adult enrichment, said the district's Olympic-style swim lessons (created by coach Mark Cameron) have been offered nearly 40 years and now draw about 600 registrations per year. The program has added three bilingual staff, adult lessons and a Masters swim program, and reduced instructor-to-student ratios to about four students per instructor.
On finances, staff said the board-backed opening of KidZone carried an initial potential risk of roughly $65,000 if enrollment and staffing remained static, though staff projected a lower loss (approximately $45,000) as enrollment grows and additional students are recruited from other schools. Administration said it would pursue county certification that would enable families to qualify for assistance and will explore preschool wraparound care options next year to improve sustainability.
Board members praised the program's rapid launch and suggested promoting student-clips and other positive materials to encourage enrollment.
