Reasons for passing on Swim & Water Polo as part of 2018's PPS Summer Dreamers
More info soon.
We acknowledge the concerns that were listed in your prior email and would like to provide updates and additional context, as is possible. The first round of contracts were sent out last Friday. We recognize the timeline is different than the prior two years when contracting was managed by APOST. We will continue to work with our legal department to streamline this process, but have always been committed to working with the partners that were approved by the Board in February. As for program policies, we are striving to make sure that what we deliver to our campers and families aligns with what has been proposed by partners. While in the past we were more flexible and amenable, we often found that led to less alignment with expectations and actual delivery of program. With that said, we are always open to new conversations about how we can best make this happen understanding the strengths of both your program and Summer Dreamers overall. In terms of concerns as it relates to program staff, we at the district are firm believers and supporters of the Restorative Practice model. We are intentionally incorporating this model into our program this year and welcome the opportunity to implement this practice with you and any staff members for whom you have concerns. Please let us know how you would like to proceed in this area. Wishing you all the best, MELANIE CLAXTON, COORDINATOR, OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
Bottom line: 1. I've got some bad feelings moving forward in 2018, 2. I need to retool the offerings and staffing capacity, 3. I feel that PPS needs to make a commitment to quality aquatics and even community schools and swimming in PE. After 2017 I said i'd wanted to have a partnership with PPS with another agency that had a stable of lifeguards -- and I've got that brewing in 2018 with The Pittsburgh Project. But, we can't re-tool our offer and switch the agency from the BGC to the TPP at this late date. Plus, TPP has just hired its new Executive Director so there has been too much uncertainty on their part moving into summer 2018. Even Citiparks needs to hire 50 additional lifeguards this month. The folks for the staffing are not around, can't swim, don't want to work the pools, are not lifeguard certified, are not trained, have to get clearances and are not varsity swimmers who are used to working with me. There are dozens of reasons why -- and they should be documented on my part. I owe the public and the district a full explanation. Pending here: /archives/581 i love the ideas of restorative practices. I took the 2 days of professional development training. But the principal problem from 2017 SDA was also compounded by a lingering challenges that lacked support at Obama, and took a turn for the worse with a new principal at Obama. There, things went from bad to worse in the 2017-18 school year. So, both SDA 2017 and Obama 2018 issues still are not resolved -- despite my asking for help from top PPS administrators. No less than seven different people at PPS could find the time to meet. David May Stein is the welcome exception. (Seemingly not interested in helping: Colbert, Friez, Anderson, Netchi, Hamlet, Ericka FJ, Gavlik.) Then there is PPS HR, oh well. + + I was thinking of a counter offer, and I'd be happy to coordinate some Water Safety Events in the days and months to come and perhaps do an aquatic / Swim & Water Polo venture that starts the DAY AFTER SDA ends for those interested.
Painful, bitter decision. I take this as a personal loss.
Since its start, I've been a supporter of the summer school program operated by Pittsburgh Public Schools called Summer Dreamers. I've recruited others to join our camp and offer their own activities at camp too. But the tide has turned in 2018. Sharing this news is hard for me as I care deeply about the kids, our programs and providing opportunities to the students in Pittsburgh Public Schools. Swim & Water Polo for 2018 PPS Summer Dreamers is not going to happen. I think it is best to sit out 2018 Swim & Water Polo as part of Summer Dreamers. At the end of April, I sent an email to PPS administrators, giving them notice that they need to forward without us this year. It was painful sending that email, as it is posting this.Our withdrawal of Swim & Water Polo from Summer Dreamers Academy in 2018 has many reasons.
The contract from PPS for Swim & Water Polo had not arrived by May 1. We can't hire a staff at the drop of a hat. I want to re-hire staff in August for the next summer, giving us 10 or more months of advance notice. Too little and too late. PPS did sent out the contracts in early May. However, some work products, such as lesson plans and connected writing project details were already due in April. We were not able to take the kids on field trips to swim at other pools.In past summers, we have always gone to Citiparks swim pools. This had been getting more and more difficult. There has never been a problem.We were not able to take the kids on field trips to a university campus (University of Pittsburgh) to witness, hear from and cheer for high-level aquatic athletes at big-time competitions.
In the past summers, we hiked to Pitt from U-Prep and went to watch a couple of hours of the senior swim championships. On the way home one time, one of our students told me, "This was the best day ever."I have a looming worry about a principal problem that came from summer 2017. I do not need a resumption of problems that have never been resolved. Earlier in the year, there was an expectation that this person would be moving to a different school to stay with elementary age students. But, that proved to not be the case.
In 2017, I promised myself I'd not work with that principal again.Another principal problem from the 2017-18 school year is still not resolved. When principals don't value swimming, don't respect the program, won't sign off on permits, won't meet with me, and can make unilateral, baseless decisions on a whim, punishing the students, then I'll pass.
Can't win. Don't wish to make a fight anyway. Can't point to things that don't exist, like critical incident reports.Going to other administrators has proved to be fruitless too.
I'm thankful David May Stein and I had a meeting. For seven others for several months, they seem to be too busy or not interested.A new tidal wave of programs are expected to come in 2019 if more extensive planning can unfold in 2018.
When the RFP for 2018 SDA was due in October, I was not the Executive Director of SKWIM USA nor was I in the role of pool manager at The Pittsburgh Project.In 2017 we had two sites and nearly 100 students. But in 2018, we were expected to have only one site and up to 25 students. This would have resulted in a pay cut for me of nearly $3,000.
Better offers from elsewhere help me to reach this decision.With a smaller number of students, staffing back-ups are impossible to employ. Travel, college visits, injuries, sickness, other family and community conflicts impact upon the schedule of the staff. With a larger set of workers, we can always cover the demands. When the staff is so small, there are few or no backups.
We acknowledge the concerns that were listed in your prior email and would like to provide updates and additional context, as is possible. The first round of contracts were sent out last Friday. We recognize the timeline is different than the prior two years when contracting was managed by APOST. We will continue to work with our legal department to streamline this process, but have always been committed to working with the partners that were approved by the Board in February. As for program policies, we are striving to make sure that what we deliver to our campers and families aligns with what has been proposed by partners. While in the past we were more flexible and amenable, we often found that led to less alignment with expectations and actual delivery of program. With that said, we are always open to new conversations about how we can best make this happen understanding the strengths of both your program and Summer Dreamers overall. In terms of concerns as it relates to program staff, we at the district are firm believers and supporters of the Restorative Practice model. We are intentionally incorporating this model into our program this year and welcome the opportunity to implement this practice with you and any staff members for whom you have concerns. Please let us know how you would like to proceed in this area. Wishing you all the best, MELANIE CLAXTON, COORDINATOR, OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
Bottom line: 1. I've got some bad feelings moving forward in 2018, 2. I need to retool the offerings and staffing capacity, 3. I feel that PPS needs to make a commitment to quality aquatics and even community schools and swimming in PE. After 2017 I said i'd wanted to have a partnership with PPS with another agency that had a stable of lifeguards -- and I've got that brewing in 2018 with The Pittsburgh Project. But, we can't re-tool our offer and switch the agency from the BGC to the TPP at this late date. Plus, TPP has just hired its new Executive Director so there has been too much uncertainty on their part moving into summer 2018. Even Citiparks needs to hire 50 additional lifeguards this month. The folks for the staffing are not around, can't swim, don't want to work the pools, are not lifeguard certified, are not trained, have to get clearances and are not varsity swimmers who are used to working with me. There are dozens of reasons why -- and they should be documented on my part. I owe the public and the district a full explanation. Pending here: /archives/581 i love the ideas of restorative practices. I took the 2 days of professional development training. But the principal problem from 2017 SDA was also compounded by a lingering challenges that lacked support at Obama, and took a turn for the worse with a new principal at Obama. There, things went from bad to worse in the 2017-18 school year. So, both SDA 2017 and Obama 2018 issues still are not resolved -- despite my asking for help from top PPS administrators. No less than seven different people at PPS could find the time to meet. David May Stein is the welcome exception. (Seemingly not interested in helping: Colbert, Friez, Anderson, Netchi, Hamlet, Ericka FJ, Gavlik.) Then there is PPS HR, oh well. + + I was thinking of a counter offer, and I'd be happy to coordinate some Water Safety Events in the days and months to come and perhaps do an aquatic / Swim & Water Polo venture that starts the DAY AFTER SDA ends for those interested.
Source: helpdesk.WordPress.2026-06-05.xml · Original ID: 581