High School Indoor Track not for Student Use?

[Jim O'Bryan]

I concur with all of the questions and comments made by Ms. Conant. They are spot-on.
Why is a government agency competing with those private Lakewood businesses that offer adult physical fitness services?

Mark

It is interesting that the website the Community Rec Center uses a .com, not a .org, or connected to the schools in anyway, so perhaps it is separate business.

As far as competing, I doubt it will compete especially if rumors are true, with 1,153 School employees getting free access, 5 board members, 555 City Employees I cannot see many joining before getting fed up waiting for the equipment. First Federal gets a discount, so that is another couple hundred members.

Of course they will not have to wait for students, as a mother just sent me a response from the schools that Students will be able to access the running track, and center between the hours of 3pm - 4:30pm only if accompanied by a coach or assistant coach. Did I say hours?! I meant hour-and-a-half.

So at least members will not have to worry about competing with pesky students, in the LHS Gym and work out center.

Still trying to find out, when in the last 15 years of bond programs the words, "Community Rec Center" were used, or when the public was ever asked to vote for the single largest part of the new High School.

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[Brian Essi]

I concur with all of the questions and comments made by Ms. Conant. They are spot-on.

Let me add a couple of my own:

Why has the School District decided to enter the business market for adult physical fitness services?

Why is a government agency competing with those private Lakewood businesses that offer adult physical fitness services?

Why is a government agency competing and then offering below market-rate pricing for adult physical fitness services?

Isn't this a rather sharp deterrent to the enterprising young business person who has a goal of starting their fitness business in Lakewood?

Mr. Kindt,

I think you may have answered your questions in a previous post (in a very general way).

1. If the City Schools, like City Hall, have been taken over and are now being driven by CCF, then this latest move by the City Schools (err CCF) is simply a continuation of a complete disregard for taxpayers and business rights in Lakewood.

2. Alternatively and/or similarly, the City Schools have witnessed what CCF (then the largest employer in Lakewood) and City Hall got away with in 2015, i.e. The Grandest Heist in Lakewood History. Following that example, as the now largest employer in Lakewood, the Lakewood City Schools and School Board are running over Lakewood Taxpayers and Lakewood businesses like CCF and the City did--with complete disregard and contempt for them.


The irony of the "liberation" and privatization of $150M in public healthcare assets and the loss of 1,500 healthcare jobs that left Lakewood is that two public entities supported by taxpayer dollars account for 15% of all jobs in Lakewood. The elected officials and/or CCF execs "running" both public entities apparently believe that there is no accountability and nobody can stop them from doing as they please.

Someone observed that Lakewood is becoming a "socialist" city, but to me it feels a bit more Putin-esque.

[Michael Deneen]

I'm happy to see that at least the kids will get some access to the track.
All the teams will need to divide up the 90 minutes per day...which reminds me a bit of "Caddy Day" at Bushwood Country Club.

caddyday.png (178.35 KiB) Viewed 4375 times

Someone observed that Lakewood is becoming a "socialist" city, but to me it feels a bit more Putin-esque.

Most definitely we are moving into a Putin-esque oligarchy.
There's definitely nothing "socialist" about Team Summers. Every move they make is aimed toward privatizing assets that were previously publicly-held.

[Dan Alaimo]

FWIW: No track, but Planet Fitness in RR is $10/mo.

[Christine Gordillo]

City of Lakewood employees will have to sign up for a membership to use the fitness facility and track.

[Bridget Conant]

What about the other questions?

And the vague response apparently means all school and board employees will have FREE membership?

[Bill Call]

I can only pass on what has been told to me, and from the sources, I believe them, and they have a track record of putting students and their safety first.

I think much of this has been pushed on them from outside sources, and they are trying to figure it out.

"Pushed on them from outside sources"

The Board has prided itself on its independence from local government. What kind of pressure can come from outside sources to affect the judgment of School Board members? What kind of pressure CAn be applied to them?

Political? I don't think so. The School Board campaigns have never featured endorsements from elected officials.

Financial? The schools are financed independently. I can't imagine the Mayor campaigning against a schools levy.

But wait!!!

Suppose the financial pressures that are being applied are threats to withhold funding from the New Foundation?

What does that tell us about the independence of the new Foundation?

What does that tell us about the foundation planning task force?

What does that tell us about school board members?

AND..

Since most School Board employees are NOT City residents and since most City employees are NOT City residents doesn't that mean that non residents are being given precedence over residents? Are they paying for membership?

[Jim O'Bryan]

"Pushed on them from outside sources"

The Board has prided itself on its independence from local government. What kind of pressure can come from outside sources to affect the judgment of School Board members? What kind of pressure CAn be applied to them?

Political? I don't think so. The School Board campaigns have never featured endorsements from elected officials.

Financial? The schools are financed independently. I can't imagine the Mayor campaigning against a schools levy.

But wait!!!

Suppose the financial pressures that are being applied are threats to withhold funding from the New Foundation?

What does that tell us about the independence of the new Foundation?

What does that tell us about the foundation planning task force?

What does that tell us about school board members?

AND..

Since most School Board employees are NOT City residents and since most City employees are NOT City residents doesn't that mean that non residents are being given precedence over residents? Are they paying for membership?

Bill

Fear not, massive leaps in independence from City Hall have just been announced. Jenn Pae is heading up the schools Financial Advisory Committee!

They were looking "for people with CPAs, CEOs, CFOs, and or bankers."

They forgot to add, "oh and Jenn Pae."

Schools saved! No levy will be needed for decades.

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[Mark Kindt]

A Truly Misguided Boondoggle

Up until last week, my opinion of the Lakewood School District was that they had successfully achieved a multi-year program to rebuild our schools. I was impressed.

Now, this week, my opinion of the Lakewood School District is that they have crowned that success with an absolutely, truly misguided boondoggle.

This is now one of those "our tax dollars at work" stories...a school district so wealthy and so endowed with taxpayer largess that they feel free to squander it on a superfluous recreation center.

How should I vote on the next tax levy? What could they have been thinking?

Utter folly!

[Jim O'Bryan]

WAIT JUST A SECOND....
Just in from the Lakewood Board of Education Written Policies

510 - USE OF DISTRICT FACILITIES
In order to assure a close relationship between the Board of Education and the Lakewood community, it shall be the policy of the Board to grant and encourage maximum use of schools facilities as provided by law.

The Board encourages community use of school facilities during non-instructional hours. Gymnasiums, classrooms, auditoriums, etc. will be made available to the public at a reasonable cost to the user, and in some cases, without cost. Such use shall not interfere with the regular education program.

It is understood that convenient access to school properties may need to be limited in those instances when it is necessary to assure protection of school property or the safety of citizens and students, or for control of students, or for control of student behavior.

Charges shall be made to organized groups according to the schedule of fees approved by the Board. The Board has established such rules and regulations as outlined in the following documents: (1) Lakewood City Schools Charges and Priorities for Use of School Facilities; (2) Lakewood City Schools Use of District Facilities; and (3) Lakewood City Schools Schedule of Facility Rental Fees.

The Board will permit the use of District grounds and facilities when such permission has been requested in writing by a responsible organization or a group of citizens and has been approved by the Superintendent in accordance with District guidelines and rules regarding the use of District grounds and facilities.

District grounds and facilities shall be available for the below-listed uses. When there are competing interests, approval will be given according to the following priorities.

Category 1: Lakewood Student Groups
Category 2: Lakewood School Support Entities
Category 3: Lakewood Community Nonprofit Groups
Category 4: Lakewood Private Nonprofit Groups
Category 5: Commercial Users/Non-Resident Groups

Category 5: Commercial Users/Non-Resident Groups
Commercial users defined as private, for-profit businesses, vendors or entrepreneurs shall be assigned level five priority.

Fees for Category 5
Category 5 users shall be charged two times the Board approved rate for allowable space permits.

Approval is necessary whenever admission is charged and/or when merchandise or food is sold. When activities in Category 5 involve admission fees, merchandise or food sales, an additional percentage may be charged based on the relationship of the admission price to actual costs.

Where extraordinary user requirements or services are required, permits shall not be granted to Category 5 users. Extraordinary activities are defined as those requiring prolonged set-up, use and clean-up. Permits for designated facilities, such as varsity playing fields and gyms, music rooms, computer rooms, and the pool shall not be granted to Category 5 users.

Upon prior approval of the Board, the Superintendent may waive or reduce any of the fees when deemed appropriate.

*************

I have to believe that according to Lakewood Board of Education, and Lakewood Schools own bylaws, students get first crack at every piece of equipment in the new Community Rec Center, including the track.

I have to thank the member of the Board of Education that told me every answer is on their website. So I took some time and read it.

Thank you.



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[Vince Frantz]

This is old. I don't see any new rules or changes here. Are these updated in some way?

Why are some lines in bold if they aren't new?

[Jim O'Bryan]

This is old. I don't see any new rules or changes here. Are these updated in some way?

Why are some lines in bold if they aren't new?

Vince

Is it marked, new? Or new in bold?

I do not understand the question.

These are the rules that are posted on the School Board website. Those that are bold pertain to students using it, and commercial use as a category 5.

They apply to all property run and controlled by the board.

The question asked was do students have any access to the track and rec center.

The answer is they get first use of it, especially during school hours.

Student use trumps all other uses, according to the Board of Education and Lakewood Schools rules.

Seems simply.

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[Kate McCarthy]

They apply to all property run and controlled by the board.

The question asked was do students have any access to the track and rec center.

The answer is they get first use of it, especially during school hours.

Student use trumps all other uses, according to the Board of Education and Lakewood Schools rules.

Perhaps they should clue Leslie Favre Krogman in on this since I understand she has been the source of the confusion. And why her employment is not considered a major conflict of interest due to nepotism has long been beyond me.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Perhaps they should clue Leslie Favre Krogman in on this since I understand she has been the source of the confusion. And why her employment is not considered a major conflict of interest due to nepotism has long been beyond me.

Kate

Leslie Favre Krogman, I have always thought of as a great choice to lead the Rec Department. She was extremely active in sports and recreation when growing up and attending Lakewood Schools. She is truly dedicated to Lakewood Rec Programs, and she was working within the Rec Department when the job opened up. I think given a little more time she will win many over and perhaps even you. It is a massive job to walk into.

As far as Nepotism, I know her father Ed Favre had little if nothing to do with her appointment, and I wonder how having a family in the school system that grew up and lived in Lakewood is a bad things for the schools? Her mother a teacher that was loved by all has retired.

As far as the confusion, I have spoken with members of the BOE, the CASC(?), the Superintendent's Office and Teachers, it seems to be a work in progress that can be worked out. But the most important parts of this entire equation to me is, 1) Students get first use. 2) Student's safety. After all it is a Lakewood City Schools operation, and that should always be about the students, and learning.

You know I find the entire thing troubling. Had they announced the new Lakewood High School and Gymnasium, I think very few would have an issue with it. After that had the said, "Teachers and staff can use the work out equipment for free when not in use by students, I would have seen it as a tremendous way to get teachers interested in teaching in the Lakewood system, and a nice perk. Then had they added some form of public access after looking at safety and amount of use, it could have made sense and been easier to swallow. But to open it as a full blown "Community Rec Center" with the public and those from outside the city getting access from 6am - 9pm and students given and hour and a half, it blows my mind.

Perhaps in the coming weeks, they will come to grips with the rules, and how it dovetails with the existing rules in place.

Also it would be great to figure out how to get younger students access. The sports alumni whine about the teams, and leagues, and quality, best way to get quality in a city school program is get them in early and working out often.

FWIW

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[Vince Frantz]

Jim you opened with "Just in from the..." as if something was new. You highlighted some lines in bold. All this discussion and no one read the policies in place? I think the source of confusion is that many people cannot distinguish the fitness room from the weight room.

There are plenty of concerns for parents about the public having access to school property but this is the bind we find ourselves in when we don't have a City Rec Department like 99% of cities do.