HomeMy WebLinkAbout05292018 City Council Laydown- Hunt TRR Status Report /60S1q Ltjd6
Teen Rec Room Status Report
May 21, 2018 (.411**C4)
In response to a request from a member of Seward City Council, the administration agreed to provide Council with a status
report on staffing issues and an update on the rules guiding participants' usage of the tRR. In addition, we are providing
information on program history and a recent attendance comparison with the prior year.
Update:
The Teen Rec Room (tRR) program has been minimally affected by the primary staff person being absent to have a
baby. Other staff members have filled in to cover the majority of the time slots. We were not expecting to have a vacancy in
the primary staff slot, but have addressed the issue by shifting other seasonal staff to manage the program. This plan is
consistent with past practice, in which we reduce summer tRR hours to focus on the heavy weight and responsibility of
younger kids in summer full day camps.
In March and April, Teen &Youth Center (TYC) staff added "Taco Tuesdays" nights to provide an alternative to teens and
middle school students and to help cover tRR hours.
Instead of filling a full-time position for tRR at a time when the building is being utilized for younger participants, we reduced
available hours for teens and middle school students. This presents a cost-savings. This action does decrease the available
or open hours per week that the tRR is open to the teens, but summer attendance typically drops off dramatically each May.
Parks & Recreation staff who regularly and/or rarely work at the tRR to cover shifts and provide indoor or outdoor programs
are: Rec Aide; TYC Coordinator; Sports & Rec Coordinator; Campground Coordinator; Parks & Rec Director; and part-time,
seasonal Program Aides.
Summer Plan:
Due to the high volume of Summer Day Camp registrants through the Teen &Youth Center(TYC), downstairs, parks and
recreation has delegated the teen Rec Room (tRR) facility as overflow space for kids in grades 1 through 8 for all 13 weeks
of summer camps.
The Middle School and High School teens and t'weens (refers to between schools) will continue to have programs and
drop-in time at the tRR. The proposed tRR teen schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights from 6 pm to
9 pm.
Around Tuesday, August 21, (the first day of school) we anticipate reverting back to the school year schedule, which
provides programming right after the school day: Tuesday through Friday, 2:30 pm to 9 pm and on Saturdays from 6 pm to
9 pm or 10 pm, depending on circumstances. We will be advertising to fill the vacancy in the TRR toward the end of the
summer when we will fully ramp up the TRR program.
History:
Not long after 1995, when the Teen &Youth Center(TYC) expanded the program to include to younger kids, teens slowly
began to feel displaced as the facility, staff and budget focused more on K through 8 than on high school programs. Teens
reported in varying surveys that they did not want the"kids' stuff' provided at TYC and they wanted their own space. When
the museum vacated the Community Center on Third Avenue and Jefferson Street, the opportunity to provide a drop-in
place for teens was quickly established. Eventually, the teens started calling the location the teen Rec Room or the tRR.
Since then, the program has served between 10 to 40 kids per night, depending on the day-of-the-week, the weather and
what after-school events were occurring. In 2017, the City parks and rec staff and tRR staff began focusing more on outdoor
field trips or events.
Comments:
The highest use days are Tuesdays through Thursdays, surprisingly. Larger numbers of teens choose other recreation
opportunities on Fridays or Saturdays.
Middle School students use the facility more regularly than high school students.
The highest number of teens in the drop-in program was 45 teens.
Attendance change (Nov 2016 through March 2017) versus (Nov 2017 through March 2018); overall attendance increased
0.07% from 1,871 teen visits to 1,884. In other words, attendance has been consistent, contrary to claims by some
members of the public.
We continue to seek and recruit summer, seasonal staff. We have filled more seasonal positions earlier this year than in
years past.
Participant highlights include rock wall climbing at the AVTEC Gym, camp fires, games night and pizza parties. Teens have
been enjoying more healthy food choices, some from donations from parents.
Private, confidential reports from adult members of the community have been received in support of fair, supportive and
respectful guidelines in exchange for use of tax-payer's property, i.e. the Rec Room. One recent comment was similar to: "If
some people complain because we sound too strict, and others complain because we are too soft on the rules, we are
probably operating in a good, safe zone."
Below are the tRR guidelines, which were presented to the City Manager's office in January, 2018.
Teen Rec Room GuidelinesE
• Use of abusive language is not permitted. Repeat offenders will be banned from the TRR for remainder of the night,
potentially longer; TRR reserves the right to suspend or altogether ban repeat offenders from either accessing or
using the facility on a case-by-case basis.
• No weapons of any sort are allowed on the premises including, but not limited to, knives, sling shots, guns,
matches, lighters, etc. TRR Staff members will confiscate items in question and turn them over to the Seward
Police Department (SPD). An incident report will be filed for such violations.
• REC ROOM-Drug Free Recreational Zone! No form of alcohol, drug, or tobacco is allowed within 500 feet of the
TYC/TRR. Anyone under the influence of alcohol, drug, or in possession of such products, as well as tobacco
products, is automatically reported to the SPD. Youth involved will be suspended from TRR and its activities for
two weeks, potentially longer, depending on the severity; upon reinstating access/use of TRR, youth are subject to
a one month probationary period. TRR staff reserves the right to suspend privileges indefinitely. An incident report
will be filed for any violations.
• Disrespect for staff, peers, facility, or equipment is not permitted. Person(s) involved will be banned from the TRR,
and potentially suspended, depending on the severity. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will be notified by TRR staff. An
incident report will be filed for such violations.
• Disruptive behavior is strictly prohibited. Physical fighting results in involved youth's termination from the TRR for
two weeks, closure of TRR for the remainder of the evening, and notification of Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and/or Police
by TRR staff. An incident report will be filed for such violations.
• Chairs are to be used by one person at a time, and sat in properly; no standing on furniture. No sitting on laps or
sharing furniture that is made for one person.
• Six inch rule applies. Persons in a relationship must maintain 6"distance away from/between his or herself and
partner when sitting by each other. No physical contact on TRR premises will be permitted. Those in violation will
be subject to dismissal, or suspension. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will be notified by TRR staff.
• Participants must take responsibility for keeping the facility and equipment in great shape. This includes cleaning up
after yourself, disposing of trash properly, putting games and equipment back in their proper place, flushing toilets
after use, and turning electronics off when not in use.
f S
I, , have read the Teen Rec Room Guidelines and agree to follow them. If
I choose not to follow the guidelines, I, , understand that there may be
consequences that may include dismissal, suspension, and contacting my Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and/or the Police
depending on the severity.
Signature