Shaw responds

To the editor,

A letter to the editor in the recent edition of the Hungry Horse News makes accusations that the city staff deliberately prevents children from Plum Tree Day Care Center from entering the Pinewood Aquatic Center.

The letter attributes a statement to a staff person that was not present. This person is very distressed that anyone would accuse her of discriminating against any child. The accuser admits she has nothing to substantiate such a claim; I hope an apology is forthcoming.

I recently met with Mrs. Peterson, Plum Tree owner, and members of her staff, city staff and Mayor Nicosia. Following is my impression of the issues raised in the letter and those meetings.

It appears that both the city pool staff and Day Care staff arrived at this event with presumptions that resulted in an outcome that neither party desired.

The city staff recognizes that the type of attention and service necessary for safe use of the pool is different for a family (a group of related persons, usually with a wide range of ages) and a supervised group (a group of unrelated persons, that frequently have a narrow range of ages). Staff presumption that the majority of this group consisted of very young children and non-swimmers was not correct. The ages covered a wider range and some were swimmers.

Last season, the pool manager questioned the day care owner about the ratio of swimmers to supervisors. The day care staff appear to have arrived with a presumption that they would be challenged about that ratio this time.

Apparently both parties immediately adopted a defensive posture —the day care staff insisting that the manager accept the "State day care ratio, which is 10:1;" the pool manager requesting that the group wait while he verified that this ratio was accepted in the Kalispell municipal pool (the day care's choice of pool for the current season).

The owner decided to return the day care staff and children to the the center before the manager was able to determine if the group could qualify to use the pool.

In the meeting between the city and Plum Tree, I believe both agreed that the city should have a guideline concerning the swimmers-to-supervisors ratio for groups using the pool; that it be posted at a conspicuous location; and that the ratio will be the same as the Kalispell Pool—5:1.

The guidelines have been prepared and will be in place on Aug. 2. Hopefully, the next pool visit will be handled better by everyone.

William Shaw, city manager

Columbia Falls