06.f Winter Recreational Program
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: September 17, 2024
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. The entire 2024
season of classes were canceled due to lack of ice. Staff contacted Gerty and Krueger to determine if
they would return to teach these classes again for the 2025 classes. Krueger has indicated she would
not be available, and Gerty has indicated she would take over the program.
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 the instructors for individuals to hire as assistants as needed.
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 8- February 12, 2025
• Pleasure Skate – January 2 – February 6, 2025
Should the City offer these Winter Recreational Programs?
2. Should the City hire Margaret Gerty as a seasonal employee for the 2025 Learn to Skate classes
at a pay rate of 80% of all participants’ registration fees?
3. Should the City hire Seasonal Program Assistants recommended by Gerty for the 2025 Winter
Program season, if enrollment exceeds 8 students, to maintain an instructor to student ratio of
1:8 or better at a pay rate of $25 stipend per day?
Proposal Details:
The proposed 2025 Winter Recreation Program is to offer Learn to Skate (Beginner, Advanced, & Hockey
Skills) classes on Wednesdays and Pleasure Skate class on Thursdays to elementary school students for 6
weeks beginning January 2, 2025. The Forest Lake School District provides an activity bus for students
attending Scandia Elementary School. All students are welcome to attend if parents provide their
transportation if they do not attend Scandia Elementary School. All parents provide transportation after
the class ends.
The registration fee for Learn to Skate is $75 per student, and Pleasure Skate is $25 per student. The
Learn to Skate instructor receives a stipend payment of 80% of Learn to Skate registration fees. Any
assistant for the classes received stipend payment of $25 per day.
Fiscal Impact: The stipend amounts will be collected from the participants in students’ registration fees
for all Learn to Skate classes. The Pleasure Skate class is supervised by a volunteer.
Options:
1. Approve the Winter Recreational Program as recommended by the Parks and Recreation
Committee.
2. Approve hiring Margaret Gerty as a seasonal employee for the 2025 Learn to Skate classes at
the rate of pay being a stipend of 80% of all Learn to Skate registration fees.
3. Approve authorizing staff to seek recommendations from Gerty for assistants, at the stipend
rate of $25 per day, 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