Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation And Programming topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School coordinator reports pool attendance surge, outlines lifeguard training and senior programming
Summary
David Peterson told the Lake of the Woods School District board that pool attendance set records in December and January, the district hosted a lifeguard certification with three students and three adults passing, and new senior swim sessions and community partnerships are increasing participation and safety training.
David Peterson, the district’s school coordinator, told the board on April 27 that targeted programming and scheduling changes have driven measurable gains in pool participation and that the district is expanding lifeguard staffing and safety partnerships.
"My goal is for the pool to be more than a facility people use occasionally, but a place the community actively chooses to visit," Peterson said, outlining three priorities: increase visibility and consistent scheduling, strengthen lifeguard staffing through local certification, and develop programming for underrepresented groups.
Peterson reported the district hosted a recent lifeguard training in which three students and three adults completed certification; he said regional collaboration helps make training viable and noted one adult attendee came from a neighboring community. He said the district introduced senior‑specific swim times in January, and that open‑swim participation set records with 479 attendees in December and 658 in January, and overall usage up about 10 percent compared with the prior year. Peterson described the pool’s role supporting school programs, estimating roughly 200 elementary students use the facility weekly for physical‑education classes and another 100–150 secondary students attend during school swim units.
Peterson also described safety work with local emergency services, including joint inservice training with Lakewood ambulance personnel on backboarding and cardiac response scenarios, and a partnership with the local junior firefighter program for cold‑water rescue training.
Why it matters Increased and more consistent pool use supports student programming, community recreation and staff recruitment for lifeguarding. The training and joint drills with EMS aim to align emergency response expectations as participation grows.
What happens next Peterson said onboarding for new lifeguards will proceed in the coming weeks and the district will continue outreach for summer lessons and targeted programming.
