Deputy City Clerk Searches for Pool Staffing Solutions

Staffing a small-town pool has proven to be a difficult task for the City in recent years. According to Deputy City Clerk Kelly Steinhoff, the issues of training and retaining the part-time pool lifeguards and managers has been a challenge to safe operations.

The part-time workers at the pool typically clock 25-30 hours a week with a pay range of $12.50-$13.50 hourly. "Many teens find that they can earn more money with an agricultural job, or one with longer hours," she said, which makes finding workers difficult. In addition, all lifeguards must be certified, a timely process that requires travel to the Walla Walla YMCA for the six-week long lifeguard certification class.

"The American Red Cross lifeguard certification (which is the one most facilities use), is designed to be taught in approximately 25-26 hours.  That's assuming 10 or fewer participants in the course and that all are very motivated, very strong swimmers." Noted the Walla Walla YMCA's Director of Aquatics and Safety Training Erika Miller.

Participants cannot miss any of the class dates as skills are progressive and students cannot pass the course if they miss days. Due to pool space, the YMCA is also not able to offer make-up sessions, as the Y pools are pretty heavily scheduled throughout the day.

The cost for the course is $175 per person and includes all materials, and pool entrance fees. Funds raised by the Friends of the Pool are slated to help cover those costs. Communicating the availability of this cost assistance has been an issue in the past.

Steinhoff has reached out to the Aquatics Management program at Eastern Washington University for help but learned that many other programs are having difficulty finding adequate staff, and that the Aquatics Management program itself has seen a decline in attendance.

In past years, Steinhoff has worked closely with the schools to market the pool opportunities and the training available. She hopes that increased publicity of the issue and support from the community could help with recruitment.

"I support the staff wholeheartedly, and I've supported them the best I can. It's a difficult job to do and I try to help them be effective." Steinhoff noted.

Upcoming Training Opportunities at the Walla Walla YMCA are:

Spring 1, Spring Break Lifeguard Course

Dates:  Friday, April 3-Saturday, April 11

Days: Friday, April 3-Saturday, April 11. Class meets every day 

Times:  Friday April 3, 4:00-7:00pm, All other days are 10:00am-2:00pm

Spring 2  

Days:  Friday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays only

Dates: Friday, April 24 - Saturday, May 9.

Times:  Fridays, 4:00-7:00pm, Saturdays and Sundays 9:00am-3:30pm

Spring 3

Days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Dates:  May 29-June 13.

Times:   Fridays 4:00-7:00pm, Saturdays and Sundays  10:00am-3:00pm