06.g Approve Hiring Seasonal Program Instructors, Assistants & Winter Recreational Programs
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: September 19, 2023
To: Mayor & City Council
From: Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant
Re: Hiring Seasonal Program Instructors, Assistants & Winter Recreational Programs
Background: Historically the City has offered Learn to Skate and Pleasure Skating classes to elementary
aged students. The City has hired seasonal instructors and assistants for the Learn to Skate classes while
a volunteer has supervised the Pleasure Skating class.
The 2023 Learn to Skate classes were taught by Margaret Gerty and Ellen Krueger. Staff has contacted
Gerty and Krueger to determine if they would return to teach these classes again for the 2024 classes
and both are interested.
Each Learn to Skate class has an enrollment minimum of 5 and maximum of 20. The City has historically
hired assistants to maintain a maximum instructor to student ratio of 1:8. The City has relied on the
recommendations of Gerty and Krueger for individuals to hire as assistants as needed. They have a pool
of eligible assistants from their years of skating experience.
PRC member Dustin Hegland has agreed to volunteer as the supervisor during the Pleasure Skate class.
The bus transportation service for Scandia Elementary School will provide an activity bus service for
students. Students would be dropped off directly at the Leonard Wojtowicz Skating Park warming house
as in past years for all Winter Recreational Programs.
Issue:
1. Conditionally, on acquiring Program Instructors, the Parks and Recreation Committee
recommends offering the following Winter Recreational Programs:
• Learn to Skate – Beginner\Advanced and Hockey Skills – January 3- February 7, 2024
• Pleasure Skate – January 4 – February 8, 2024
Should the City offer these Winter Recreational Programs?
2. Should the City hire Margaret Gerty and Ellen Krueger as seasonal employees for the 2024 Learn
to Skate classes at a pay rate of 40% each of all participants’ registration fees?
3. Should the City hire Seasonal Program Assistants recommended by Gerty or Krueger for the
2024 Winter Program season, if enrollment exceeds 15 students, to maintain an instructor to
student ratio of 1:8 or better at a pay rate of $20 stipend per class, not to exceed $120?
Proposal Details: Last year, Margaret Gerty and Ellen Krueger taught the Learn to Skate Advanced,
Beginner and Hockey Skills classes. Gerty and Krueger’s rate of pay was 40% of the students’ $65
registration fee. Based on the enrollment limitations their stipends would be as follows:
Stipend paid to Gerty Stipend paid to Krueger
Minimum 5 Students Enrolled $130.00 $130.00
Maximum 20 Students Enrolled $520.00 $520.00
Stipend per Student Enrolled $26.00 $26.00
The City retains $13 per registration to offset administrative expenses. Gerty and Krueger request the
City hire one additional assistant per 10-15 registrations at the stipend rate of $20 per class for a total of
$120 for all 6 weeks when enrollment exceeds 15.
$ Retained by City Expense 1 Assistant Expense 2 Assistants Expense 3 Assistants Expense 4 Assistants
16 Students $208 $120 - - -
20 Students $260 - $240 - -
25 Students $325 - $240 - -
30 Students $390 - - $360 -
35 Students $455 - - $360 -
40 Students $520 - - - $480
45 Students $585 - - - $480
50 Students $650 - - - $480
55 Students $715 - - - $480
60 Students $780 - - - $480
Fiscal Impact: The stipend amounts will be collected from the participants in their registration fees.
Options:
1. Approve the Winter Recreational Program as recommended by the Parks and Recreation
Committee.
2. Approve hiring Margaret Gerty and Ellen Krueger as seasonal employees for the 2024 Learn to
Skate classes at the rate of pay being a stipend of 40% each of all registration fees.
3. Approve authorizing staff to seek recommendations from Gerty and Krueger for assistants, at
the stipend rate of $20 per class, based on total enrollment to maintain an instructor to student
ratio of 1:8 or better. Recommendations for hiring returned to City Council at a future meeting.
4. Table for further discussion.
Recommendation:
Option 1, 2 and 3