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September 29, 2012

West Mead Supervisor Shartle says swim program a top priority

By Pat Bywater THE MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

WEST MEAD TOWNSHIP — John Shartle remembers the tragedies that took place on French Creek and other area waterways before the Meadville Area Recreation Complex existed nearly 40 years ago.

That’s why, when representatives of the complex came to this month’s meeting of the township supervisors, Shartle chose to use his platform as a supervisor to speak out about what he sees as the potential impact of a recent Crawford Central School Board decision.

“They really need to be careful when they cut something like this,” said Shartle. “It could create heartache. I believe the public needs to have greater awareness of the potential impact.”

Looking to balance increasingly tight budgets, the school board recently decided to cut its swimming program entirely, and along with it went more than a quarter of the complex’s annual revenue — $206,000 — after June 30, 2013. At the end of this school year, fourth-graders will no longer be bused to the complex for swimming lessons, and middle school and high school students will no longer have swimming as part of their physical education program. The district’s swim team will continue to use the complex through the 2012-13 year.

In the wake of the decision, complex representatives have visited the three government entities that provide most of the rest the complex’s revenue — the City of Meadville and Vernon and West Mead townships.

During their presentation to Shartle and fellow supervisors Bill Rosenberger and Michael Jordan at this month’s supervisors’ work session, complex representatives Mike Fisher and Joe McDougal said work is underway to identify community partners and special programming to help make up the looming shortfall in funding. They stressed that no plans are final yet and expressed interest in having any community groups or individuals with ideas contact Fisher at the complex.

The two stressed that at this time they are not asking West Mead and the complex’s other funding partners for additional money, and the West Mead supervisors expressed support for continuing to aid the complex at its current level.

Shartle used the appearance as an opportunity to speak out during the work session and public meeting regarding his concern over the swimming program cut and to call the community’s attention to a change that he believes may have a far-reaching, and tragic, impact.

He recalled, as have others since the school board took its action, that the complex was built in part to address what seemed to have become a regular summer event — children drowning in French Creek and other area waterways. The idea, Shartle recalled, was to provide a safe place to swim and a place where swimming instruction could be provided. The partnership among the municipalities, the school board and complex to provide the facility and instruction has lasted more than 35 years, he pointed out.

Shartle said he understands that the school district must find cuts, but stressed that maintaining the swimming program should be a high priority. He suggested the school board revisit its spending plan to make sure there aren’t other, less essential, items that could be cut. He expressed concern that area residents be aware of the potential impact of the swimming program cut and urged them to speak out in an effort to reopen the issue.

Supervisors Rosenberger and Jordan also expressed concern.

If each resident in Meadville, Vernon and West Mead gave the complex a few dollars a year, Jordan pointed out, the funding lost through he school district’s decision would be restored.

“Everyone should know how to swim and save a life,” Shartle said. “The swimming is a part of teaching our kids.”



Pat Bywater can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at pbywater@meadvilletribune.com.

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