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Community & Recreation report highlights staffing pressures, swim‑lesson growth and new programs
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Summary
The district’s Community & Recreation coordinator presented semiannual results showing swim‑lesson growth and higher summer pool visits, while adult enrichment and early‑childhood programming declined largely due to staffing shortages; the board discussed funding and outreach for equitable participation.
Bill Graymont, coordinator for Community & Recreation, told the board the department’s semiannual report showed mixed results: increases in some summer participation and swim‑lesson enrollment, and declines in adult enrichment and early‑childhood programs largely tied to staffing shortages.
Graymont highlighted personnel changes and transitions, including the retirement of John Lloyd after 25 years and a planned handoff to a successor, Thomas, in December. He said pool visits at the Fairgrounds were up by about 2,400 compared with the prior period while the Taylor pool was down about 800 visits, explaining Taylor experienced a heater issue. Graymont also noted that several swim‑lesson formats expanded and that a small number of swimming‑lesson participants subsequently joined the Fond du Lac Swim Club.
The presentation described recruitment and staffing as the chief operational challenge: the rec department operates 15–75 staff in the winter and up to 175–200 in summer depending on programs. Graymont cited instructor availability as a driver of fewer adult‑craft classes and reduced early‑childhood offerings. He said the department is experimenting with contracted online adult‑education options (guitar, piano) and new offerings such as water polo and track‑and‑field clinics.
During public comment, Shari Trotter of Ebony Vision said rec participation appears to underrepresent Black and Brown students and asked whether historic fee‑reduction practices for free/reduced students remain in place. Graymont and other administrators said a racial breakdown of participation has not been produced under the current coordinator and that the program’s main funding sources are the local levy (Fund 80) and program fees, not federal Title funds. Board members asked administration to explore outreach, potential survey collection, and ways to sustain popular programs amid funding and staffing constraints.
Graymont closed by noting operational upgrades — remote monitoring of pool chemical control units — and the department’s continued effort to align hiring and onboarding processes with district standards.
