Everyone out of the pool! Aquatics Center opening delayed months

A last-minute decision to delay the opening of the new SWC Aquatics Center was a safety matter, said a college official, but union leaders said it is a deeper problem.

Dean of Athletics Jim Spillers said his team did not feel the proper safeguards were in place to open the pool to students and the public.

“We looked at the pools and (realized) it is smarter to take a step back and make sure everything is in place rather than rush forward and possibly create a situation that was unsafe,” he said. “We really took a hard look at it. Always better to be safe.”

Spillers said the pool will remain closed until it is fully staffed.

Members of the classified union and administrators group have expressed unhappiness with the college’s decision to hire MediFit, a private firm, to operate the new pool and gymnasium facilities. Classified union leaders insist those new jobs should be college positions represented by the California School Employees Association (CSEA). Former President Dr. Melinda Nish and the governing board decided it would be much less expensive to outsource jobs in the wellness and aquatics complex.

Trustees approved the agreement with MediFit in July 2016 over the strong objection of the CSEA, according to union president Matthew Millus.

“Former CSEA President Andre Harris sent the district a cease and desist letter and filed an Unfair Labor Practice with PERB, forcing the district to negotiate with CSEA,” said Millus.

PERB, the Public Employment Relations Board, is a quasi-judicial agency that oversees union agreements in California.

Millus was elected CSEA President in December 2016 and took over negotiations from Harris. Millus said the community voted for a college-managed public facility that would generate good jobs when it passed Proposition R, a $389 million general obligation bond, in 2008.

“This changed when the governing board approved the agreement with MediFit to operate a for-profit health club in the new facilities,” said Millus. “CSEA became involved because the district was, in effect, contracting out our bargaining unit’s work.”

Both the SCEA and the administrators group “have concerns” with management and staffing of the facilities, said Millus. SCEA is upset it was not included in the decision making process, he said.

Director of Disability Support Services Patricia Flores-Charter said her concern was lack of accessibility in some parts of the facility. A push button door on the second floor of the facility is malfunctioning, she said. Students with disabilities have reported the technical malfunctions, but no one was able to assist, she said.

Flores-Charter said an accessible restroom lacks an electric door. Other DSS issues include lack of electric outlets, which affects students who use wheelchairs who may want to dry their hair. Swim suit dryers are too high and there is a lack of automatic soap dispensers, said Flores-Charter. She also said the sign-in computer at the front desk is too high and the faculty offices are not accessible.

Matt Ustaszewski, the swimming and diving coach, said his team will greatly benefit from the new facility because it eliminates the long drive to the Las Palmas Pool in National City where the team practiced for the past two years.

Physical therapy for swimmers will be easier and more effective, he said.

“Having the ability to do it immediately after practice will benefit them,” he said.

SWC’s $52 million Wellness and Aquatics Complex includes a 75,000 square foot, three-story facility with a gymnasium, fitness classrooms and locker rooms as well as a 25-meter therapy pool and two Olympic-sized swimming pools. It also includes locker rooms for athletic teams. Men’s and women’s basketball teams have moved into their locker rooms, said Spillers, and the volleyball team will join them this fall.

SWC’s new gym features workout rooms for spinning, yoga and weight training.

Zennia Chia, a freshman forward on the women’s basketball team, said she is grateful for the new gym.

“As a student athlete the gym becomes our home for months,” she said. “We were so excited to see our brand new locker rooms. We are so fortunate.”

Only students may use the new gym this semester. Other members of the community will have to wait until this summer, according to Ernesto Rivera,  SWC’s marketing communications associate.

The Health First Fitness Club was retained by the college to create a membership program with “reasonable rates” starting in the summer, according to Spillers. Membership will include two sessions with a personal trainer and online fitness assessment. SWC’s students are eligible for a discount. Spillers said the cost of the membership has not been determined.