"The Atlantic City Aquatic Club is a great bargain, especially if you happen to live in Atlantic City. For $200 a year, you get instruction from coaches who have sent swimmers to the Junior Olympics, to college teams and to national meets, where one 10-year-old boy recently broke a backstroke record set by the young Michael Phelps."
"The club is also a lifesaver, says Enoe Azcona, and not just because the single mom has raised two children on an island. As her son, Jorge, learned to swim, he shed 60 pounds and gained strength from a team of achievers that kept him from the call of the streets.
Here's where the but comes in."
"The Atlantic City Board of Education has looked around at other districts and determined that the $6,500 it charges the club to use the Atlantic City High School pool is too good a deal.
How does $85,000 a year sound? ......"
The link to the whole article is below:
www.philly.com/.../20120927_Daniel_Rubin__Lifesaving_A_C__swim_club_facing_its_own_peril.html
It would be great for the Atlantic City Board of Education to know that the USMS community is watching by calling, sending them emails or letters, or otherwise letting them know that their penurious actions have been noticed, are offensive, and not the kind of actions expected of a public body.
The ACBOE seems to be attempting robbery. Even if other wealthy swim clubs could pay this fee, it would be hard to believe that the incremental expense to the school district for the hours the pool is used by the aquatic club approaches $85k.
The Atlantic City Aquatic Club provides swimming for very needy kids, keeping them out of harms way, and saving lives - exactly the type of experience that USMS Swim for Life Foundation is supporting. Their webpage is: www.acacswim.org/Home.jsp. Support this club and let the ACBOE and Club hear your voices.
Their ACBOE webpage is: http://www.acboe.org/
The ACBOE address is: Atlantic City Board of Education, 1300 ATLANTIC AVENUE 5TH FLOOR, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ 08401
Phone: 609-343-7200
Donna L. Haye, Superintendent 609-343-7200 ext. 5003 dhaye@acboe.org
Patricia Bailey, President BOE
Contact Us page: http://www.acboe.org/contact
Please share any thoughts you have in this thread.
Thanks, Bill
Unfortunately, there is probably more to the story than what was presented in the article. Perhaps the school district realized that there were insurance obligations, and they got lawyered up on what that might cost. Also, there is no information as to whether the district is facing cuts in funding from the State, which might have something to do with the change in heart.
As are many, I hate seeing programs cut, but without the complete picture, it is hard to say what I would suggest the board do to accomodate the program.
